Civil Aviation

New Delhi, 10th June 2024: Three-time Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP and one of the youngest minister in Modi 3.0 Cabinet, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, was made Union Minister for Civil Aviation. As the Prime Minister Narendra Modi allocated portfolios to his Union council of ministers,Ram Mohan Naidu became 34th Minister of Civil Aviation as part of the new Council of Ministers. Ram Mohan was first elected from the Srikakulam Lok Sabha constituency in 2014 and retained the seat in 2019 as well as in 2024. He is the son of former Union Minister late Kinjarapu Yerran Naidu, the Lok Sabha MP completed his schooling at Delhi Public School, RK Puram, pursued undergraduate studies in Electrical Engineering at Purdue University, and later completed his MBA from Long Island University in New York, USA, in 2011. Naidu is from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister-designate N Chandrababu Naidu’s party, which played a key role in ensuring the BJP returns to power after the 2024 Lok Sabha election. He is also his party’s National General Secretary, contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Srikakulam constituency, a seat he has now won three times in a row.

Mumbai, 8th June 2024: Heligo Charters offered its first Airbus H145D3 helicopter to ONGC for their production requirements.This is the first 05 bladed Airbus H145 helicopter flying in offshore (Oil & Gas) in India. Helicopter will be flying for minimum 1200 hours per year, for a period of 10-year. HCPL is already flying 03 AW 139 helicopter and 03 Bell 412 helicopter for ONGC.HCPL was awarded with 03 H145D3 helicopter for the production task and 01 AW 139 helicopter for the crew change, balance 3 helicopters will be deployed soon. HCPL is operating H145 helicopters since 2019 in onshore configuration for the Government charters, we have already flown more than 2000 hours on H145 till date.We are proud to mention that we have flown more than 86,000 hours of flying till date with NIL accident record, since the inception i.e. Feb’ 2009. HCPL is a helicopter company based in India and at present, it has four AS 365 N3, four Bell 412, four AW 139 and Six H 145 helicopters. Heligo is one of the first helicopter companies in the country to introduce FOQA which enhances the safety standards amongst the operating crew.

New Delhi,10th June 2024: Oman based LCC, SalamAir has announced the launch of flights between Delhi and Muscat from 2nd July 2024 onwards. SalamAir will operate two weekly flights on Tuesdays and Thursdays to the Indian capital. The introduction of flights to Delhi marks a significant milestone for SalamAir as the airline continues to expand its network to meet the growing demand for affordable and convenient travel options to the Sultanate. This new route is expected to enhance connections between Oman and India, providing more travel options for the expat community, leisure travelers, and business professionals, as well as supporting cultural exchange and fostering economic collaboration. “We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new direct flights from Delhi to Muscat,”said Mazin Al Salmani, Director of Sales at SalamAir. “This new route underscores our commitment to expanding our network and offering our passengers more convenient and affordable travel options. We look forward to welcoming travelers aboard and providing them with our exceptional service and hospitality.” Abhishek Goyal, Executive Director of Aeroprime Group GSA, SalamAir, said,”We are proud to support SalamAir in launching their upcoming new route to New Delhi. This expansion strengthens the bond between Oman and India and enhances travel options for travelers. We are committed to ensuring that passengers enjoy seamless and affordable travel experiences with SalamAir.”

Gurugram, 3rd June 2024: Air India has collaborated with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Delhi International Airport (DIAL) to facilitate check-in for international travellers at two metro stations in Delhi- New Delhi and Shivaji Stadium. The Delhi Airport Check-in & Baggage Drop facility allows passengers to checkin their baggage at the metro station, giving the outstation travellers the option to explore the city baggage-free.Meanwhile their baggage gets securely loaded onto the aircraft through an advanced automated infrastructure created by DMRC & DIAL. Currently available for domestic journeys, this service will now be extended to international travellers and will remain operational at the two metro stations from 0700 hrs to 2100 hrs. The check-incan be done between 12 hours and 2 hours prior to flight departure for domestic itineraries and between 4 hours to 2 hours for international schedules. “Our partnership with DMRC & DIAL stands testament to our commitment to offering passengers an enhanced and seamless travel experience. This initiative not only provides a cost-effective option for travellers coming from distant locations but also helps control congestion at the airport, leading to a better experience for all our customers. Further to the technology interventions partnered and implemented by Air India & DIAL,such as DigiYatra, Self-Baggage Drop machines at airport terminals, this initiative will significantly enhance the convenience and satisfaction of our customers, said Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India.

Riyadh,21st May, 2024: Saudi Group announced the largest aircraft deal in Saudi aviation history with Airbus during the first day of the Future Aviation Forum 2024 held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. This landmark agreement encompasses 105 confirmed aircraft and marks a significant moment not only for the Saudi aviation industry but also for the wider MENA region. The ceremony, in the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, Engr. Saleh Al-Jasser, was attended by dignitaries, country ambassadors, and key figures from the global aviation sector, as well as a multitude of media representatives and industry experts specializing in travel, aviation, and transportation. The deal, signed by H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al Omar, the Director General of Saudia Group, and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President Sales of the Commercial Aircraft Business, includes A320neo and A321neo models. These aircraft will be distributed between Saudia and flyadeal, the group’s low-cost carrier. Saudia will acquire 54 A321neo aircraft, while flyadeal will receive 12 A320neo and 39 A321neo aircraft. The new aircraft directly support Saudia Group’s objectives to connect the world with the Kingdom, aligning with several key pillars of Saudi Vision 2030. These include the transportation and logistics objective to increase guests’ capacity to 330 million and expand destinations to 250 by 2030, and the tourism objective to attract 150 million visits by 2030. This is in addition to the Hajj and Umrah objective to contribute to the increase of Umrah pilgrim capacity to 30 million by 2030. These modern aircraft boast a spacious cabin with a stylish interior design. They’re equipped with the latest amenities and technology, ensuring a truly differentiated travel experience that prioritizes Saudia guests’ comfort and privacy whilst delivering an exceptional service. Furthermore, the A320 family aircraft are fuel efficient as it emits 20% less fuel burn and carbon emissions compare to previous generation aircraft. To ensure the new aircraft are always in top condition, Saudia Technic, the group’s Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) arm, will provide comprehensive maintenance services. This will prove even more crucial with the upcoming completion of the MRO Village at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, significantly increasing the company’s service capacity. H.E. Engr. Saleh Al-Jasser, the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, said: “The aviation sector is grateful for the tremendous support provided by the country’s leadership. This agreement is one of the enablers of achieving the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy. It will contribute to enhancing the operational performance of Saudia, increasing flights and seat capacity, and launching new destinations. Furthermore, it aims to connect the world to the Kingdom in line with the significant transformation witnessed by the aviation sector under Saudi Vision 2030, while also reaffirming our commitment to providing the best services that enhance the travel experience.” H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said: “Saudia has ambitious operational objectives to meet growing demand. We are increasing flights and seat capacity across our existing 100+ destinations on four continents, with plans for further expansion. The progress of Saudi Vision 2030 is attracting more visits, tourists, entrepreneurs, and pilgrims each year. This motivated our decision to secure this significant deal, which will create jobs, increase local content, and contribute to the national economy.” Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business said: “The new additions of the A320neo family aircraft will play a vital role in contributing to Saudi Arabia’ ambitious Vision 2030 plan. It will enable Saudia Group’s strategy to advance the Kingdom’s aviation capabilities while enabling both airlines to benefit from the A320neo Family’s exceptional efficiency, superior economics, highest level of passenger comfort as well as lower fuel-burn and emissions.” The ceremony marked a new chapter for Saudia, unveiling their largest investment ever in guest experience. This includes a first-of-its-kind AI-powered “Travel Companion”, to support guests through trip planning to after sales support. Business class cabins will be transformed into luxurious, privacy-focused suites that convert into flat beds, progressively rolling out across both existing and new fleets. Guests can also stay connected with high speed in-flight connectivity and enjoy unparalleled entertainment with the highest-definition screens soon to be on board.

Jakarta, 20th May 2024: Garuda Indonesia (GA) and Singapore Airlines (SIA) signed a commercial partnership to offer reciprocal benefits for their frequent flyer programme members, and to explore revenue sharing arrangements for flights between Indonesia and Singapore, subject to regulatory approvals.The frequent flyer programme agreement was inked by Garuda Indonesia Chief Executive Officer,Irfan Setiaputra and SIA CEO, Mr Goh Choon Phong in Jakarta, while the joint venture revenue share agreement was signed by Garuda Indonesia Director of Service and Commercial Ade R. Susardi and SIA Chief Commercial Officer Lee Lik Hsin.When launched, the frequent flyer partnership will allow GarudaMiles and KrisFlyer members to earn and redeem miles on codeshare flights operated by both airlines. The revenue sharing agreement, when implemented, will support joint capacity growth, marking a significant step in the plans for a proposed commercial joint venture arrangement that covers Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines flights between Singapore and Indonesia.Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia have a strong codeshare partnership that has expanded in recent months. Today, Garuda Indonesia codeshares on Singapore Airlines flights between Singapore and the Indonesian cities of Bali, Jakarta, Medan, and Surabaya, as well as long-haul routes between Singapore and Johannesburg, London (Heathrow), and Mumbai. SIA codeshares on Garuda Indonesia flights between Singapore and Bali, Jakarta, and Surabaya. Irfan Setiaputra, President and CEO of Garuda Indonesia said that this partnership is part of Garuda Indonesia’s efforts to improve the Company’s performance through a strategic commercial partnership, especially in providing added value to customers. “Having the same mission in optimising the potential of the aviation business ecosystem in South East Asia after the pandemic, this initiative is certainly an important manifestation of both airlines’ commitment to continue strengthening our well-established cooperation,” Irfan explained. He added,“This partnership is a special moment for us, which also marks the 58 years of Garuda Indonesia’s journey in connecting Indonesia and Singapore. In the future, we hope that this partnership will continue to enhance social, cultural, and tourism relations between Indonesia and Singapore whilst offering seamless access for customers to enjoy various destinations served by both airlines.” “We hope that the expansion of this partnership will bring added value for Singapore and Indonesia, which are served by both airlines. Furthermore, this collaboration is also expected to not only provide added value for both airlines’ customers, especially through the ease of earning and redeeming miles for tickets and other exclusive benefits, but the hope is that it will strengthen Garuda Indonesia’s support for national tourism by providing more access to points in Indonesia for foreign tourists who will visit Indonesia via Singapore in the future,” Irfan said. Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines, said,“Our win-win partnership with Garuda Indonesia will improve the connectivity between Indonesia and Singapore for our customers. This will help to meet the increasing demand for air travel between the two countries and beyond, as well as facilitate the growth of tourism and economic activities. Furthermore, by deepening the synergies between our frequent flyer programmes, we can enhance the benefits for our loyal customers, offering them more opportunities to earn and redeem miles when travelling with both airlines.”

Singapore, 15th May 2024: The demand for air travel remained buoyant throughout FY2023/24, boosted by a rebound in North Asia as China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, and Taiwan fully reopened their borders. SIA and Scoot carried a combined 36.4 million passengers, up 37.6% year-on-year. Passenger traffic grew 26.6%, outpacing the capacity expansion of 22.9%. As a result, the Group passenger load factor (PLF) improved 2.6 percentage points to arecord 88.0%. SIA and Scoot registered record PLFs of 87.1% and 91.2% respectively. Group revenue rose $1,238 million (+7.0% year-on-year) to a record $19,013 million. Passenger flown revenue rose by $2,319 million (+17.3%) to $15,685 million, despite a 7.6% decline in passenger yields. Cargo flown revenue fell $1,485 million (-41.2%) to $2,119 million. While cargo loads increased by 1.7% due to the strong demand from the e-commerce segment, yields were 42.2% lower year-on-year – albeit 29.8% above pre-pandemic levels2. Group expenditure increased $1,202 million (+8.0%) to $16,285million. Non-fuel expenditure rose by $1,336 million (+13.5%), and was partially offset by a $132 million decrease (-2.5%) in net fuel cost. The increase in non-fuel expenditure was lower than the 16.0% increase in overall passenger and cargo capacity. On the other hand, net fuel cost fell despite higher volumes uplifted (+$918 million) anda lower fuel hedging gain (+$358 million), mainly due to an18.5% decrease in fuel prices (-$1,281 million). As a result, Group operating profit reached a record $2,728 million, up $36 million or 1.3% from a year before. The Group’s net profit improved by $518 million (+24.0%) to $2,675 million. This was mainly due to the better operating performance (+$36million), a net interest income versus net finance charges a year before (+$215 million), lower tax expense (+$132 million)3, and a share of profits versus a share of losses of associated companies from the previous year (+$104 million). Second Half FY2023/24 – Profit and Loss Second half Group revenue rose by $492 million (+5.3%) year-on-year to $9,850million, marking a record for the Group’s half-yearly revenue. This was driven by a $749 million (+10.1%) increase in passenger flown revenue on the back of a 17.5% growth in traffic, which was slightly below the 17.7% expansion in capacity. The Group PLF remained almost flat at 87.3% (-0.1 percentage point). Passenger yields declined 6.0% on intensifying competition as other airlines progressively restored capacity. Cargo revenue fell $446 million (-29.7%), with yields declining (-35.9%) amid the recovery in bellyhold cargo capacity. This was partly offset by an increase in loads (+9.7%) due to robust e-commerce flows. The demand for airfreight from Asia was also supported by security concerns in the Red Sea, bolstering the overall cargo performance. Expenditure grew $776 million (+9.8%), consisting of a $496 million increase (+9.2%) in non-fuel expenditure and a $280 million increase (+11.1%) in net fuel cost. Net fuel cost increased to $2,794 million, mainly due to higher volume uplifted (+$365 million) and lower fuel hedging gain (+$185 million),and partially offset by a 6.8% drop in fuel prices (-$219 million). In the second half, the Group operating profit decreased by $284 million (-19.5%) from the previous yearto $1,174million. The Group net profit was stable, rising $4 million year-on-year to $1,234 million. This was mainly driven by a lower tax expense (+$249 million)and a surplus on disposal of aircraft, spares, and spare engines versus a loss the year before (+$45 million), whichoffset the decline in operating performance. Balance Sheet As of 31 March 2024, the Group shareholders’ equity was $16.3 billion, down $3.5 billion from 31 March 2023. This was due to the partial redemption in June and December 2023 of the June 2021 Mandatory Convertible Bonds (MCBs) for $5.1 billion, including accrued yield. Total debt balances decreased by $1.9 billion to $13.4 billion, mainly due to the repayment of borrowings. As a result, the Group’s debt-equity ratio increased from 0.77 times to 0.82 times. Cash and bank balances decreased by $5.1 billion to $11.3 billion, arising from the redemption of the MCBs, repayment of borrowings, and payment of dividends. This was mitigated by the $5.1 billion of net cash generated from operations, which included proceeds from forward sales.On top of the cash on hand, the Group has access to $2.9 billion of committed lines of credit, all of which remain untapped at present. Fleet and Network Development As of 31 March 2024, the Group operating fleet consisted of 200 aircraft with an average age of seven years and three months. SIA had 142 passenger aircraft4 and seven freighters, while Scoot had 51 passenger aircraft5. In April 2024, the Group added one Airbus A350-900 and two Embraer E190-E2 aircraft to its fleet. As of 1 May 2024, the Group had 89 aircraft on order6. As of 31March 2024, the Group’s passenger network7 covered 118 destinations in 35 countries and territories. SIA served 73 destinations while Scoot served 67. The cargo network comprised 123 destinations in 37 countries and territories. For the Northern Summer 2024 operating season (31 March 2024 to 26 October 2024), Barcelona, Beijing, Darwin, Hong Kong SAR, Houston, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Milan, Perth, Rome, Seattle, Shanghai, Taipei-Tokyo (Narita), and Yangon will see an increase in services. SIA launched services to Brussels in April 2024 and will begin operations to London (Gatwick) in June 2024. Scoot began Embraer E190-E2 operations on 7 May 2024 with flights to Krabi. The aircraft will operate to existing destinationssuch as Hat Yai, Miri, and Kuantan, as well as two new points – Koh Samui (in May 2024) and Sibu (in June 2024). Operating the aircraft on thinner routes to non-metro destinations in the Asia-Pacific allows the Group to unlock significant growth opportunities in the region. Final Dividend The Board of Directors recommends a final dividend of 38 cents per share for FY2023/24. Including the interim dividend of 10 cents per share paid on 22 December 2023, the total dividend for FY2023/24 will be 48 cents per share. Subject to shareholder approval at the Annual General Meeting on 29 July 2024, the final dividend (tax exempt, one-tier) would

New Delhi,10th May 2024: In a significant development at the Arabian Travel Market 2024 in Dubai, Emirates Airlines is considering initiating flights from Dubai to Lucknow said one of their representatives who visited the Uttar Pradesh tourism pavilion at the Arabian Travel Market 2024. The presence of Emirates at the pavilion initiated discussions on boosting the influx of tourists from the UAE to Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh currently leads in domestic tourism and is actively pursuing strategies to boost inbound tourism. The state is promoting its tourism destinations globally, showcasing prominent sites such as Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, the upcoming Mahakumbh, key Buddhist sites, Chunar Fort, the Sufi circuit, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, and Chitrakoot among others. These attractions garnered attention from thousands of tour operators from various countries visiting the pavilion. Prateek Heera, President of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) revealed that discussions were held with representatives from Emirates Airlines regarding the launch of flights to Lucknow. The selection of Lucknow stems from its status as both the capital and its excellent airport facilities, which would facilitate accessibility for residents from other districts. Uttar Pradesh is renowned for hosting globally significant religious and spiritual tourism sites. These globally relevant sites have been divided into Twelve tourism circuits by the state. Other than the prominent tourism destinations, the state is now aiming to bolster wedding, health and wellness and alike tourism options to cater to every category. Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism and Culture, said, “Uttar Pradesh is taking rapid strides in tourism development. The promotion of Uttar Pradesh’s tourism destinations at the Arabian Travel Market 2024 (ATM) is expected to attract tourists from around the world to Uttar Pradesh and we are positive of achieving greater heights in inbound tourism as well”.

Delhi, 2nd May 2024: Jazeera Airways, in the first quarter (1Q) of 2024 recorded a break even in operations, and reported a net loss of KD 2.7 million. This was mainly due to the impact of foreign currency losses of KD 2.5 million. The total group revenue for this quarter was KD 46.4 million versus KD 48.3 million from Q1 2023. Jazeera Airways handled 1.2 million passengers in 1Q 2024, an increase of 4.2% or approximately 47k passengers more vs 1Q ‘23. Load factor was at 79.3% while Jazeera Airways’ network market share increased to 37.3% vs 36.1% in 1Q 23. The retail lease revenue for Terminal 5, owned and managed by the airline increased to KD 378k. Duty free business grew by 5.4% over 1Q ‘23 to KD 1.2 million. Marwan Boodai, Chairman, Jazeera Airways said: “Jazeera Airways, time and again, has demonstrated strong resilience through several unique situations. Last year, headwinds driven by overcapacity, combined with a tough regulatory, geopolitical, and regional landscape put pressure on our year end results. In 1Q 2024, our operations remained steady, yet we recorded a loss impacted by foreign currency fluctuations. However, by staying focused on controlling our operational costs and, nimble and agile to market conditions, we are well positioned to grow in summer and to navigate 2024.” Financial and Operational Highlights 1Q 2024 Highlights: ● Operating revenue: KD 46.4 million, down 4.1% from 1Q’23, up 18.3% from 4Q ‘23 ● Operating profit: KD 1.3million, down 64.6% from 1Q’23, up by 120% from 4Q ‘23 ● Net loss: KD2.7 million, down 216.5% from 1Q’23, down by 62.2% from 4Q ‘23 ● Passengers: 1.2 million, up 4.2% from 1Q’23, up by 0.7% (1.14m) from 4Q ‘23 ● Load factor: 79.3%, down 2.7% from 1Q ‘23, up by 3.5% from 4Q ‘23 ● Yield: KD 37.43, down 8.9% from 1Q ‘23, up by 17.7% from 4Q ‘23 First Quarter 2024 Review In the first quarter of 2024, Jazeera Airways welcomed a new Chief Executive Officer, Barathan Pasupathi (Bara), a veteran in aviation and finance with vast experience in heading a budget carrier. The airline also announced the launch of direct flights to Batumi, Georgia scheduled to start from 14 June 2024. Other destinations are also scheduled to resume operations for the summer season. These include Antalya, Beirut, Bodrum, Larnaca, Prague, Sarajevo, Salalah, Sharm El Sheikh, Tirana, Tivat, and Trabzon. 2024 Outlook With the launch of upcoming summer destinations, Jazeera covers close to 63 destinations across the Middle East, Central and South Asia, Africa, and Europe. Growth, both financial and operational, remains on top of the agenda for Jazeera Airways. This is supplemented by continuous enhancements to products, services, and Jazeera Terminal 5.

Colombo: 29 April 2024 SriLankan Airlines and Air Seychelles have signs a codeshare partnership, ushering in seamless travel to multiple new destinations throughout Asia, Africa and Australia for their passengers flying between Colombo and Mahé. Connecting people and places across continents, the collaboration empowers SriLankan Airlines to amplify its position and reach in Africa and passengers of the airline to travel conveniently between Colombo and Mahé twice a week. For Air Seychelles, over 20 destinations are included in the partnership, which includes much requested destinations such as Sydney and Melbourne in Australia as well as other popular stops in India, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. This new codeshare agreement will allow SriLankan Airlines and Air Seychelles to place their codes on each other’s flights and enable passengers to continue their journey conveniently using a single booking and with their luggage checked in all the way to the final destination. It also means passengers can book their travels with both airlines, through online travel agencies, as well as with local travel agents.   Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines stated, “We are pleased to boost our codeshare network and presence in the African region through this new partnership. We look forward to working with Air Seychelles to provide our customers more African destination options in the coming years.” Charles Johnson, Air Seychelles’ Chief Commercial Officer shares “Now that we have been flying to Colombo for over 9 months, the twice-weekly flights have proven successful. The next step to solidifying our relationship is with this code-share, allowing even more passengers the convenience of a single ticket to more points served by our partner in Asia and Australia.” Flights under the codeshare agreement are available to book now and will begin operating in May 2024.