Civil Aviation

Mumbai, 23rd January, 2025: Vietnam Airlines has announced the upgrade of its aircraft on the Mumbai to Hanoi route, effective May 1, 2025. It will operate four times a week using Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 aircraft. This upgrade will increase capacity of Vietnam Airlines from Mumbai, strengthening air connectivity between both the countries. Speaking on the announcement, Nguyen Trung Hieu, Country Manager India at Vietnam Airlines, expressed his enthusiasm,“Following the launch of daily A350 flights in Delhi last year, and the overwhelming response from the market, we are thrilled to increase our operations from Mumbai. Upgrading to wide-body operations with our Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 aircraft reflects our unwavering commitment to offering Indian travelers unparalleled comfort and convenience. We look forward to welcoming passengers onboard and providing them with an exceptional journey characterized by renowned Vietnamese hospitality.” Echoing this sentiment, Abhishek Goyal, CEO & Executive Director, Aeroprime Group(India GSA for Vietnam Airlines), added: ‘’Upgrading to the world-class Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 aircraft demonstrates Vietnam Airlines’ commitment to enhancing customer experience. We are proud to support Vietnam Airlines in their journey as Mumbai represents a vital market for expanding travel between India and Vietnam. With a strong and growing demand for this stunning destination, these upgraded operations will further strengthen connectivity and offer Indian travelers an unparalleled travel experience.’’ Vietnam has emerged as one of the most sought-after destinations for Indian travelers in recent years. According to Google Trends, it was the “Most Searched Destination for Indians in 2023.” The introduction of wide-body flights from Mumbai is perfectly timed to meet this growing demand while providing seamless connections from Hanoi to key destinations across Asia-Pacific, including China, Japan, Korea, and Australia. Vietnam Airlines currently operates 14 flights weekly from Delhi and Mumbai to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. With this upgrade featuring wide-body aircraft on the Mumbai-Hanoi route, the airline further solidifies its position as a preferred choice for Indian travelers seeking comfort, reliability, and exceptional service.

Kuala Lumpur, 20TH Jan 2025: The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has announced that Qantas Airways Limited has joined AAPA with immediate effect.“We are very pleased and honoured to welcome Qantas Airways as a member of AAPA. Qantas, a leading Australian airline with a long heritage, would not only strengthen the Association’s voice in international aviation policy discussions, but also reinforce effective regional collaboration on key aviation tenets, namely safety, sustainability, and seamless air travel,” said Subhas Menon, Director General of AAPA. Cam Wallace, Chief Executive Officer of International and Freight, Qantas, said, “Qantas looks forward to working with members of AAPA as the industry embraces opportunities to meet the evolving needs of customers in a dynamic market, while at the same time confronting challenges such as climate change and supply chain disruptions. There are many areas airlines can share best practices and experiences to benefit the travelling public”.

Frankfurt, 18 January 2025: The Italian airline ITA Airways is a new member of the Lufthansa Group. The Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and Europe’s leading aviation group concluded the transaction today. As a result, the Lufthansa Group has a 41 percent stake in the Italian airline ITA Airways. The remaining 59 percent will initially continue to be held by MEF. The two parties had already agreed in May 2023 that Deutsche Lufthansa AG would acquire a minority stake of 41 percent in ITA Airways. The European Commission had recently approved the participation by approving the remedies on 29 November 2024. Other competition authorities outside the EU have since also approved the participation. The first step of the investment was implemented today by means of a capital increase of 325 million euros. Options for the acquisition of the remaining shares in ITA Airways have been agreed between the Lufthansa Group and MEF and can be exercised from this year. With today’s transaction, ITA Airways is part of the Lufthansa Group and will be the Group’s fifth network airline. Carsten Spohr, Chief Executive Officer Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said,“We are proud to finally welcome ITA Airways to the Lufthansa Group. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this, especially in Rome, Brussels, Berlin and Frankfurt. The ITA Airways team has written an impressive success story in recent years and, with great energy, passion and expertise, has built an airline that is already the pride of an entire nation. We look forward to continuing this success story of ITA Airways together. With our investment, we will now strengthen the Italian and European aviation market and the position of the Lufthansa Group as number one in Europe. Our joint passengers worldwide will benefit from improved offers and optimized connections as early as this upcoming summer flight schedule.” Italy will thus become a further “home market” for the Lufthansa Group. The country is already the company’s second most important international market after the USA, outside the existing home markets of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium. The five-star Rome Fiumicino Airport will be the sixth and southernmost Lufthansa Group hub. Milan-Linate, as a metropolitan airport in the economically strong northern Italy region with the second largest catchment area in the EU, will play a prominent role in the Group. Timely integration ITA Airways will be retained as a strong brand and developed further. With today’s closing of the transaction, the Lufthansa Group and ITA Airways can conclude the first cooperation agreements for their passengers. In a few weeks, ITA Airways frequent flyers will be able to collect their points or miles either in ITA Airways’ existing “Volare” program or already in Miles & More, the Lufthansa Group’s loyalty program. In addition, Miles & More participants will have the opportunity to earn and redeem miles on ITA Airways flights. Further collaborations, such as joint codeshare connections, mutual use of the respective lounges and the planned admission to the Star Alliance aviation alliance, are to follow successively. Further details will be communicated to customers and partners in a timely manner. ITA Airways (IATA flight number code “AZ”) is a young airline that has been growing since it started operating in 2021. Its modern, environmentally friendly Airbus fleet currently numbers 99 aircraft, including 22 long-haul Airbus A350-900, Airbus A330-900neo and A330-200 aircraft. ITA Airways flies to almost 70 destinations around the world. The airline’s home base is its Rome Fiumicino (5-star Skytrax) and Milan Linate airport. In 2024, the airline welcomed around 18 million passengers on board its aircraft. Joerg Eberhart (54) is appointed as new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ITA Airways. He is also a managing member of the Board of Directors of the Italian airline, which is based in Rome. In this role, Joerg Eberhart will take over the tasks previously performed on an interim basis by Antonino Turicchi and Andrea Benassi. Lorenza Maggio (47) will take over the position of “Chief Strategy and Integration Officer” (CSIO) and will become a member of the Board of Directors of ITA Airways. In this position, Lorenza Maggio will manage the strategic development of the airline and be responsible for its integration into the Lufthansa Group. Michael Trestl (39) will be responsible for the holistic integration of ITA Airways into the Lufthansa Group as “ITA Implementation Officer” and will transfer from Austrian Airlines to the Group headquarters in Frankfurt for this purpose. Michael Trestl has been a member of the Austrian Airlines Executive Board and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) since 2021. “I am delighted that we can appoint two managers from our own ranks to the management of ITA Airways: Joerg Eberhart and Lorenza Maggio,” says Carsten Spohr. “With their extensive experience and expertise, they will continue ITA Airways’ successful course and quickly integrate the airline into the Lufthansa Group. With Michael Trestl, an experienced airline manager will take over the integration task in the group.”

Chennai, 10th Jan 2025: Hong Kong’s home carrier Cathay Pacific has announced the introduction of a Premium Economy cabin on flights from Chennai to Hong Kong. The airline will operate Airbus A350-900 aircraft, featuring Business, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins, to cater to diverse traveller preferences. Cathay Regional Head of Customer Travel and Lifestyle Anand Yedery said,”We are excited to introduce our Premium Economy cabin to the Chennai market. This addition reflects our dedication to offering customers greater comfort and choice. Chennai is a key destination for us, and our focus is on delivering unparalleled service and travel experiences. Travellers’ needs have evolved over time. In the past, there wasn’t an option between Business and Economy classes, but with the introduction of our Premium Economy cabin, travellers can opt for extra comfort and personalised services, especially on medium- and long-haul flights. Our aim is to enhance the air travel experience for our customers.” Cathay Pacific’s Premium Economy cabin redefines comfort and sophistication,offering thoughtfully designed seats with enhanced recline, extra legroom, and ergonomic headrests for unparalleled relaxation. Features include full-length calf rests, leather-padded footrests, and larger meal tables that enhance work or and dining. For added convenience, personalised storage spaces keep essentials within easy reach. Customers can also enjoy Disney+ Originals along with a refreshed user interface, ensuring an immersive experience that sets a new standard for air travel. Furthermore, the airline will be increasing its flight frequencies from Chennai to Hong Kong. From 2 January to 1 March 2025, flights on the Chennai-Hong Kong route will run four times weekly, rising to five flights per week from 2 March to 30 March 2025, to meet growing demand and enhance connectivity.

Dreieich,10th January 2025: Hahnair is reflecting on a successful year 2024. The market leader in distribution and ticketing solutions added 18 new carriers to its leading network of over 350 partner airlines over the course of last year. The flights of all new partners can be issued by travel agencies around the world on the insolvency-safe Hahnair HR-169 ticket. The ticketing specialist also secured 12 additional contract signatures with airlines which are currently being implemented and which will be communicated soon. Seven of the new partner airlines have entered into interline agreements with Hahnair and are available under their own IATA codes in major GDSs. The remaining eleven carriers are taking advantage of the products H1-Air or X1-Air for airlines that are looking to expand their GDS presence, thereby extending their reach through all major GDSs to over 100,000 travel agencies in 190 markets. “2024 was an incredible year for Hahnair”, comments Kirsten Rehmann, CEO of Hahnair. “Not only did we sign 30 new partner airlines, we also celebrated the 25th year of our ticketing business, underwent a successful rebranding and commemorated the milestone of 50 Million insolvency-safe tickets since 2010. We are ready for 2025 with a focus on our products H1-Air and X1-Air, new technologies and new distribution channels. We’ll be able to share more news soon.” More information about Hahnair and its products and services for travel agents and airlines can be found at www.hahnair.com The 18 new Hahnair partners added in 2024: Interline partners available under their own 2-letter-code • Aero Mongolia, Mongolia (M0) • Alaska Airlines, USA (AS) • Greater Bay Airlines, Hong Kong (HB) • Nesma Airlines, Egypt (NE) • Sky Airline Peru, Peru (H8) • St Barth Executive, France (LE) • Sunrise Airways, Haiti (S6) H1-Air partners available under the H1 code • Qazaq Air, Kazakhstan • Thai Vietjet Air, Thailand X1-Air partners available under the X1 code • Air Antilles, Antilles • Alsie Express, Denmark, • Budapest Aircraft Services, Hungary • Corendon Dutch Airlines, The Netherlands • Costa Rica Green Airways, Costa Rica • Dalloo Airlines, UAE • Drukair – Royal Bhutan Airlines, Kingdom of Bhutan • Flytrip, Panama • Sunlight Air, Philippines

Delhi, 7 January 2025: Akasa Air has announced the appointment of Belson Coutinho as its Chief Operating Officer, effective January 6, 2025. Belson will lead Akasa Air’s crucial operational functions as the airline continues its path to becoming one of the top 30 airlines in the world by the turn of this decade. In his new role, Belson will be responsible for Inflight Services, Airport Services, Maintenance & Engineering, Flight Operations, IOCC, Operational Excellence while also spearheading Akasa Air Learning Academy. With over two decades of experience in the aviation industry, Belson has delivered multiple industry-first initiatives in Indian aviation, underpinned by his strong operational, strategic and leadership skills. Commenting on the appointment, Vinay Dube, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Akasa Air, said, “We are delighted to have Belson step into the role of Akasa Air’s Chief Operating Officer. Belson’s multifaceted role over the years had him successfully collaborate with cross-functional teams across airline operations, developing a good understanding of the functioning of operational departments. His passion for brand building, service excellence, training, technology, processes, employee centricity and sharp focus on cost leadership equips him to bring tremendous value to his new role as our COO. We are confident that under his leadership, we will continue to enhance our operational efficiency, deliver on our values of service excellence, and make significant strides toward achieving our vision of becoming a world-class airline.” Belson has been a part of Akasa Air’s executive committee since the airline’s inception in 2022. Prior to assuming the role of Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Belson held the position of Co-Founder and Chief Marketing & Experience Officer at Akasa Air where he was instrumental in shaping the brand’s vision, driving category-redefining customer-centric initiatives, and creating a strong foundation for the airline’s unprecedented growth.

New Delhi, 2nd Jan 2025: The Cathay Group is pleased to announce that it has achieved a significant milestone by carrying more than 100,000 passengers, the most on a single day since the start of its rebuild. On 15 December 2024, Cathay Pacific and HK Express, the Group’s two passenger airlines, carried a combined total of 100,856 passengers, surpassing the 100,000-passenger mark on a single day. Since the milestone was first reached, the Group exceeded the 100,000-passenger mark on a total of eight days during the year-end travel peak ending 31 December 2024. Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: “We are thrilled to have concluded the year 2024 on a high note with yet another milestone. The past year saw unprecedented progress and expansion for the Cathay Group, thanks to our people’s dedication and efforts. In particular, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our global frontline teams, who have been working tirelessly over the holiday period to ensure that our customers enjoy a smooth journey as they explore new destinations or reunite with their friends and families during the holidays. “We are pleased to have successfully completed our two-year rebuilding journey, during which we were firmly focused on adding more flights and destinations for our customers and our home hub. A new chapter has now begun for Cathay.” Cathay Pacific recently resumed its seasonal service to Cairns, Australia and will be launching several long-haul routes in 2025, including Hyderabad in India, Dallas in the United States, and Munich and Brussels in Europe. In addition, HK Express added Shizuoka, Japan to its network recently and will be launching a new service to Sendai, Japan later this month. Together as a Group, Cathay Pacific and HK Express have reached 100% of pre-pandemic flights from January 2025. It is projected that the two airlines will operate passenger services to 100 destinations around the world within 2025, marking another meaningful milestone for the Cathay Group. With the commissioning of the Three-Runway System, Hong Kong has entered an exciting new era. As the city’s home airline, Cathay will continue to contribute to Hong Kong’s status as a world-leading international aviation hub, connecting Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and the world.

Gurugram 02 January 2025: Air India today began operating its flagship A350-900 aircraft on non-stop flights between Delhi and Newark’s Liberty International Airport (EWR). This follows Air India’s A350 service on the Delhi-New York (JFK) inaugurated on November 1, 2024. With this, Air India now serves all non-stop flights between India’s capital and the New York region with its A350 aircraft, offering its all-new interiors, including private suites in Business Class and a Premium Economy cabin, as well as an award-winning new Inflight Entertainment (IFE) system, enhanced catering, and new service ware. In celebration of the launch, Air India’s cabin crew went on a cinematic journey to recreate iconic New York City moments and in search of some of the city’s landmarks featured in globally popular Hollywood and Bollywood movies. The aircraft features a Business Class cabin with 28 private suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, each accommodating a fully flat bed. Each suite offers direct aisle access, sliding privacy doors, and a personal wardrobe. The A350 deployment brings Air India’s Premium Economy experience on all flights between Delhi and the New York region, offering 24 extra-legroom seats in a 2-4-2 configuration in a dedicated, upscale cabin. The full suite of the new IFE content on Air India’s A350 flights features over 3000 hours of entertainment content across formats and genres, including 1400 hours of movies, 850 hours of TV, and 1000 hours of audio.

Delhi,17th December 2024: SriLankan Airlines recently completed the seventh year of service between Melbourne-Colombo route.Launched in 2017, this sector is very popular among the Sri Lankan expatriates and students as well as the tourists travelling to Melbourne, Sri Lanka and beyond, particularly destinations across India. With steady growth in traffic, including tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka, the Melbourne-Colombo route has become popular among travellers visiting friends and relatives or vacationing between Australia and South Asia, strengthening cultural and economic ties between the two regions. The route is also one of SriLankan Airlines’ top performers, both as a direct flight and a convenient connection, especially for Indian passengers. Dimuthu Tennakoon, Head of Worldwide Sales & Distribution of SriLankan Airlines, stated, “As we celebrate this milestone, SriLankan Airlines will continue exploring potential expansion opportunities across its network to support the envisioned growth of this important route. With a strong foundation built over the past seven years, the airline is well-positioned to enhance connectivity and promote tourism between Sri Lanka and Australia.” V. Ravindran, Regional Manager Asia Pacific of SriLankan Airlines, added, “We are excited and overwhelmed by the success of our operations. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, and I extend my heartfelt appreciation to each member for their contributions. As we move forward, we look forward to continuing to provide exceptional service and to strengthening our connections between Australia and Sri Lanka. Our commitment to our passengers remains unwavering, and we are eager to explore new opportunities for growth and enhanced travel experiences.” SriLankan Airlines operates Airbus A330-300 and 200 series aircraft on the Melbourne route, ensuring modern in-flight comforts for passengers. Flights UL604 and UL605 currently operate a daily service between Colombo and Melbourne. Passengers can expect the award-winning service for which the airline is renowned for when travelling with SriLankan Airlines.