Civil Aviation

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.

Kuwait, 10 December 2024: Jazeera Airways has announced its plans to purchase six Airbus A320 CEO aircraft, as part of its ongoing transformation and strategic growth. These aircraft are currently leased and operated by Jazeera as part of its fleet. The transition from leased to owned aircraft is aimed at reducing unit costs and mitigating supply chain challenges that have impacted the aviation industry, including delays in aircraft deliveries. This move will further enhance Jazeera’s operational resilience and cost-efficiency, especially as the airline prepares to mark 20years of flyingin 2025. As part of its transformation, Jazeera Airways plans to expand its network of routes, introduce enhanced in-flight services, and leverage cutting-edge technologies to elevate the overall passenger experience. The airline is also committed to maintaining the highest safety standards and continuing to adapt to evolving market demands in the coming years. Commenting on the development, Marwan Boodai, Chairman of Jazeera Airways, said,”Our decision to invest in six Airbus A320 aircraft reflects our forward-thinking approach to fleet management and transformation. By building a balance between leased and owned aircraft, we are reinforcing our operational resilience while ensuring we maintain one of the most cost-efficient models in the region. This acquisition also highlights our commitment to enhancing passenger experience, improving operational efficiency, and expanding our reach as we transform into a more sustainable and innovative airline. As we evolve, we will continue to stay focused on delivering value to both our customers and our shareholders.” The airline is expecting deliveries from its current order book of 26 Airbus A320 family aircraft including 18 A320 NEO and 8 A321 NEO Aircraft to begin in 2026.By expanding its fleet, Jazeera is well-positioned to expand ts network footprint and deliver lower unit costs across its markets. The airline currently operates a fleet of 24 aircraft which includes 13 A320 CEO and 11 A320 NEO serving a network of more than 60 destinations across the Middle East, Central and South Asia, Africa and Europe./div> </

London,November 27th 2024: British Airways has unveiled its brand-new First seat, combining elegant design with expert British craftsmanship, reflective of modern British luxury travel. The new cabin forms part of the airline’s A380 retrofit plans, expected to take to the skies in mid-2026. The airline’s new first class has been carefully designed to provide the feel of a modern luxury hotel, alongside home comforts and thoughtful British touches at 35,000ft. The seat has been beautifully curated by expert designers and world-class manufacturers from all corners of Great Britain and Ireland, including London, Glasgow, West Yorkshire, Kilkeel and Dublin. The new seat is ultra-wide (36.5inches), with a bed length of 79inches, and features a multi-purpose ottoman and elegant storable table, a 32-inch 4K TV screen, adjustable mood lighting including scenes such as ‘relax’, ‘dine’ and ‘cinema’. The seat can be adjusted with the touch of a button to find the perfect level of comfort and is located within a cocooned 60-inch curved wall for ultimate privacy, whilst still providing a spacious environment. For customers travelling together in the centre of the cabin, the divider slides open to create a shared lounge space, and the storable tables mean customers can enjoy ‘buddy dining’ in the seat with their travel companion. The elegant curves throughout the cabin take inspiration from British Airways’ Concorde wings, giving a natural flow to the space and creating a welcoming environment. Customers can now simply wheel their luggage into their personal luggage space, making it even easier to settle in before their flight. Elsewhere, the suite features an ambient light with an eye-catching design that subtly references the airline’s speed marque and further nods to Concorde. The suite features window blinds, activated by buttons on the internal control panel for all three windows per seat. The soft panelling inside the seat also helps with acoustics and absorbing sound, which adds to the sense of being in a cocooned, private space. Customers can also use the seat’s brand-new ‘do not disturb’ functionality on its wireless control tablet, which notifies crew if they wish to maximise their rest on board. British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, Calum Laming, said, “We’re incredibly proud to launch the next era of First Class Seat that pushes the boundaries of comfort, luxury and modernity, taking into consideration customer preferences and expectations to the finest detail. This coupled with our incredible colleagues delivering a world-class service, following the launch of our First Service Specialists scheme, as well as the many benefits of flying First such as First Wing entry, access to our award-winning lounges including our Concorde Room and priority boarding, means we truly believe we offer a winning combination in delivering an extraordinary experience for our customers.” The airline listened to colleagues and customers to help shape design elements and specific features to suit preferences, such as the carefully placed storage with usability and purpose in mind. The airline also introduced its fully rectangular bed following customer feedback that replicates all the comforts of a home environment. The airline also worked closely with world-class manufacturer, Collins Aerospace RTX business, to create the First seat, following its involvement in carefully crafting British Airways’ Club Suite and short-haul aircraft seats earlier this year. British Airways is proud to be the only European carrier from the UK to offer a First product across the Atlantic. Customers travelling in First can experience the airline’s most luxurious way to travel, from a stylish seat, exclusive access to lounges, fast-track security, use of the First Wing at Heathrow and excellent service on board. The airline offers the most premium experience for travellers from the moment they book to when they land in their destination. The airline is continuing to invest in its overall customer experience and has already rolled out over 120 initiatives as part of its £7billion transformation focus, from brand-new short-haul seats, free Wi-Fi messaging on board to refreshing its lounges across its global network.

New Delhi,25th November 2024: In one of very new marketing initiative, SriLankan Airlines has launched a tour package under the theme, “The Ramayana Trail”. One can walk through the sacred pages of this timeless story with our exclusive Ramayana Trail package, designed especially for Indian travelers. This experience will immerse to the places where Lord Rama, Sita, and Hanuman’s adventures unfolded, set against the lush backdrop of Sri Lanka. The Ramayana Trail takes to 20 significant locations in Sri Lanka, each deeply woven into the Ramayana story. Visit Seetha Amman Temple, where Sita is said to have prayed during her captivity, and stand in awe at Rumassala Hill, where a piece of the Himalayas is believed to have landed, dropped by Hanuman. Every stop is a connection to your spiritual heritage, bringing the stories of the Ramayana alive. SriLankan Airlines, Chief Executive Officer, Richard Nuttall said, “We are pleased to make a grand comeback in the India market with this exclusive range of Ramayana Trail excursions which is guaranteed to inspire travellers to explore destination Sri Lanka like never before. India is our single largest market in terms of number of cities connected and flight frequencies. We are certain that this endeavour will further strengthen our future expansion strategies whilst portraying Sri Lanka as a destination that is closely connected to their devotion and culture. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau, Chairman, Buddhika Hewawasam said, “India has been the prime source market for Sri Lanka’s inbound tourism. Travellers from India hold a very special place in our hearts, as they have always been the first to arrive in our shores signalling the end of difficult times. This trend has been visible in the context of all unprecedented challenges that we faced recently as a country. We are proud to collaborate with the National Carrier, SriLankan Airlines in its latest strategic marketing drive, ‘Ramayana by SriLankan,’ which will continue to inspire discerning travellers from India to explore the charms of old ages blending seamlessly with modern day travel.” Experience the power of faith as you walk in the footsteps of Lord Rama and Sita. From the cave where Ravana hid Sita to the lake where Lord Rama defeated Ravana, these ancient sites provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect deeply with your roots. The highlight, of course, is the legendary bridge built by Lord Rama’s Vanara army to reach Lanka, a symbol of resilience and devotion. The Ramayana Trail is more than a tour; it’s an opportunity for self-discovery. As you reflect on the values embodied by Lord Rama—honor, loyalty, and perseverance—you’ll gain new insights into your own life. The connections you forge with your fellow travelers, inspired by shared faith, will create memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. No visit to Sri Lanka would be complete without embracing its vibrant culture. From vibrant festivals and colorful temples to mouth-watering local dishes like hoppers and kottu, you’ll experience Sri Lanka’s warm hospitality, echoing the famous Indian “Atithi Devo Bhava” spirit. Sri Lanka’s close-knit relationship with India makes it the ideal destination for this spiritual quest.

Delhi, 18th Nov 2024: Tata Sons (Tata) and Singapore Airlines (SIA) celebrated the successful merger of Air India and Vistara at a ceremony held in New Delhi. The event was attended by Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, and Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Airlines, as well as senior management and employees from Tata, SIA, Air India, and Vistara. Post taking over of Air India, Tata Sons are under process of consolidating the four airlines within the Air India Group into one full-service and one low-cost airline is part of the ongoing, five-year Vihaan.AI transformation programme. This creates an Air India Group with a significant presence across all key segments of the Indian market – domestic, international, full-service, and low-cost operations. This will help to enhance the Group’s operational capabilities, expand its customer base, and gradually elevate service standards, product excellence, and the customer experience. Post-merger, the Air India Group operates a combined fleet of 300 aircraft covering 55 domestic and 48 international destinations, with 312 routes and 8,300 flights per week. The airline will offer extended worldwide connectivity to over 800 destinations through more than 75 codeshare and interline partners. The collective staff strength stands at over 30,000. Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman, of Tata Sons, said,“It has been a little over two and a half years since the homecoming of Air India to the Tata Group. This week’s merger between Air India and Vistara is an important milestone in our commitment to transform Air India into a world-class global airline. Singapore Airlines continues to be our strategic partner in our aviation journey and we welcome them to Air India.” Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, of Singapore Airlines, said: “This merger marks a pivotal moment for Indian aviation. Working with our valued, long-standing partner Tata Sons, the SIA Group will support the ongoing transformation of the enlarged Air India Group, offering our stewardship and expertise where possible. We are focused on helping to restore Air India to its leading position in the Indian aviation market and creating an airline Group that everyone in India can be proud of. “For the SIA Group, the completion of the merger reinforces our long-standing direct participation in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. Singapore Airlines is committed to deepening our commercial collaboration with Air India, and finding ways to provide greater value and enhanced options to our customers on flights between India and Singapore, and beyond.”

New Delhi, 08 November 2024: Finnair is renewing the cabins of its Embraer fleet to increase passenger comfort also on shorter routes. The first refurbished Embraer cabin is now completed, and the target is to renew the entire fleet of 12 Embraer aircraft by spring 2026. Seven aircraft will be renewed during the winter season 2024–2025, and the remaining Embraer aircraft will be renewed during the winter season 2025–2026. The Embraer fleet is used on routes to many of Finnair’s destinations in Finland and the rest of Europe, especially shorter routes in Northern and Central Europe. The colour scheme and atmosphere of the new cabins have been designed to match that of Finnair’s recently refurbished wide-body fleet and Finnair’s new Schengen lounge at Helsinki Airport. “We wanted to create a harmonious, fresh and inviting travel environment for our customers, with dark blue and grey colours and a hint of wooden laminate – elements familiar from our long-haul aircraft,” says Eerika Enne, Head of Inflight Customer Experience. “The renewed cabin will feature two new seats. The seats on rows 1– 9 offer a bit of additional comfort thanks to its design and cushioning. The seats in the first rows recline slightly, while from row 10, the seat does not recline. The service concept will remain unchanged in connection with the cabin renewal,” says Enne. The number of seats remains unchanged, with 100 seats in Finnair’s E190 aircraft as before. In connection with the cabin renewal, lighting was also renewed to LED lighting. One of the targets of the Embraer cabin renewal has been to reduce the weight of the aircraft, as reduced weight means lower fuel consumption and, thus, lower carbon dioxide emissions. Weight has thus been a consideration for all elements in the cabin. “Both the Business Class seat and the Economy Class seat are lighter than the previous Embraer cabin seats, and also the cabin carpet is made of a lighter material than before. With these changes, we aim to reduce the weight of the aircraft by approximately 150 kg per aircraft,” Enne notes.

New Delhi,7th Nov 2024: By Aviation World Desk In one of the biggest jolt to the Indian Aviation sector, the Supreme Court invoked its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to order the liquidation of Jet Airways in view of the “peculiar and alarming” circumstance that the resolution plan has not been implemented for five years. NCLAT had earlier, upheld the transfer of ownership of the airline to the Jalan Kalrock Consortium (JKC) as part of the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP). The Supreme Court, while issuing an order observed that JKC failed to comply with the resolution as it failed to infuse Rs 150 crore, the first trench of Rs 350 crore to clear the outstanding of workers and airport among other essential costs. The latest judgement marks the end of the airline’s struggle to revive itself.The Court also directed the NCLT Mumbai Bench to appoint a liquidator forthwith and forfeit Rs 200 crores as paid by the Successful Resolution Applicant(SRA). The Court set aside the NCLAT Order which allowed Jet Airways’ ownership transfer to the SRA without complete payment in accordance with the resolution plan. The bench of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra had reserved the judgment on October 16. The NCLAT order was challenged by SBI-led lenders of the cash-strapped Airlines. “This litigation is an eyeopener, has taught us many lessons about the IBC and the functioning of NCLAT,” Justice Pardiwala orally said before the pronouncement.The Court held that the NCLAT order allowing the adjustment of the first tranche of payment of Rs 350 crores against the Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) was in “flagrant disregard” of the order of the Supreme Court passed on January 18 and was “perverse.” “We have no doubt that the NCLAT acted contrary to settled legal principles and it incorrectly interpreted our order,” the Court observed in the judgment.