Civil Aviation

Paris Air Show, 19.06.2023: IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share, has placed a firm order for 500 A320 Family aircraft, setting the record for the biggest single purchase agreement in the history of commercial aviation. The latest agreement takes the total number of Airbus aircraft on order by IndiGo to 1,330, establishing its position as the world’s biggest A320 Family customer. The historic purchase agreement was signed by Rahul Bhatia, Promoter & Managing Director of IndiGo, Dr. Venkataramani Sumantran, Chairman and Non-Executive Independent Director of IndiGo, Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO, and Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International, at the Paris Air Show 2023. Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, said, “It is difficult to overstate the significance of IndiGo’s new historic order for 500 Airbus A320 Family aircraft. An order book now of almost 1000 aircraft well into the next decade, enables IndiGo to fulfil its mission to continue to boost economic growth, social cohesion and mobility in India. At IndiGo, we take pride in being India’s preferred airline for connectivity in and with India; and by doing so, being one of the leading airlines in the world. This order strongly reaffirms IndiGo’s belief in the growth of India, in the A320 Family and in our strategic partnership with Airbus.” “This landmark order marks a new chapter in Airbus and IndiGo’s relationship that is democratising affordable air travel for millions of people in the world’s fastest growing aviation market. It is also a resounding endorsement of the A320 Family’s best-in-class operating economics that have been powering IndiGo’s growth for almost two decades. We cherish our long-standing relationship with IndiGo and are proud of our success together. We look forward to contributing to the growth of India’s air connectivity in its domestic network and into international markets through the expansion of this formidable partnership”, said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International at Airbus. New Delhi-headquartered IndiGo is among the fastest growing carriers in the world. Since its first A320neo aircraft was delivered in March 2016, its fleet of A320neo Family has grown into one of the world’s largest with 264 aircraft in operation (162 A320neo, 79 A321neo, 21 A320ceo and 2 A321 freighters. IndiGo placed its first order with Airbus in 2005 (100 A320 Family) and again in 2011 (180 A320 Family including the NEO), in 2014 (250neo Family), and in 2019 (300 A320neo Family) taking its previous total order book to 830 A320 Family aircraft. Over the last two decades, the A320neo has been instrumental in democratising air travel in India as an expanding economy and rising disposable incomes continue to add millions of first-time flyers to a booming aviation market. Worldwide, the A320 Family is the undisputed leader in the single-aisle aircraft category. The aircraft has the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky that incorporates the very latest technologies. It features enhanced aerodynamics and the latest-generation jet engines, resulting in significant reductions in fuel consumption and lower emissions. With more than 8,700 orders from over 130 customers, the A320neo Family is the aircraft Family of choice for airlines around the world across all business models.

Mumbai, 09 June 2023: Vistara announced yet another industry-first initiative of implementing Aerowash, an automated aircraft exterior washing and cleaning solution introduced by AeroTech Support Services Pvt. Ltd.Operated by a user friendly and wireless remote control, Aerowash is equipped with several safety features and alarm indicators.Its efficient micro-fiber brush drum provides a superior cleaning result of the aircraft exterior surface using a nearly waterless, dry-wash process.This cutting-edge technology reiterates Vistara’s commitment towards adopting innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiencies while also reducing its carbon footprint.Aircraft detailing (or cleaning) is a critical aspect of maintenance in the aviation industry. Traditionally, it has relied on manual labor, which can be time-consuming, resource-intensive and prone to human error. However, this mechanised program is not only time efficient but also sustainable. It reduces aerodynamic drag caused due to the accumulation of dirt, dust, grime, etc., and ultimately reduces the aircraft weight. This directly translates to enhanced fuel efficiency by minimising fuel burn.By meticulously maintaining the cleanliness and integrity of the aircraft’s exterior, this innovative approach will safeguard against structural damage, prevent corrosion caused by environmental factors and oil/fluid leakages, and extend the lifespan of the aircraft. Vistara has been conducting demo/proof of concept of AeroWash for sometime.Pankaj Handa, Senior Vice President – Ground Operations, Vistara said,”We are delighted to become India’s first carrier to implement this one-of-a-kind initiative that underscores our unwavering commitment to invest in innovative, purpose-driven technologies since inception. This is yet another step as part of our ongoing efforts towards enhancing efficiencies across various areas of our operations through automation while also constantly looking at improved, and more sustainable ways to do business.”Dr. Ashwani Khanna, Executive Director, AeroTech Support Services Pvt. Ltd. said, “We are excited to get associated with Vistara as it becomes the first airline to adopt this futuristic technology after a detailed assessment. Vistara is the first airline in India to sign up for this solution and lead the way for other airlines to follow. I am also happy with how the relationship with AISATS has evolved to a collaborative partnership that has the potential to have a deep positive impact on the entire industry in the coming years.”

Kuwait, 5th June 2023: Jazeera Airways, Kuwait’s leading low cost carrier,is operating direct flights from Kuwait to the Sphinx International Airport in Egypt.The airport is only an hour away from downtown and two hours away from Cairo International Airport. For tourists, the airport offers a convenient route to other parts of Egypt including historical sites such as the Pyramids, the Great Sphinx and even the forthcoming Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.It also connects to the popular Red Sea resorts like Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada. Rohit Ramachandran, Chief Executive Officer, Jazeera Airways said, “We are delighted to fly to our seventh destination in Egypt,with Jazeera Airways being the first GCC carrier to operate direct to Sphinx International Airport. With four flights a week to this great leisure destination, we also offer a convenient and affordable travel option for toursits as well as locals. I would like to especially take this opportunity to thank the Egyptian Civil Aviation authorities for their tireless efforts to open up greater connectivity to this beautiful country. ” The two terminals at the airport handle up to 900 passengers an hour with an annual capacity of 1.2 million passengers per year. This facilitates a faster journey for arriving and departing passengers through the airport. The airport also helps reduce congestion at the Cairo Airport as well as traffic in the capital. Travellers can actually save up to two hours in the rush hour traffic by opting to travel through this airport. Jazeera Airways now serves a total of 66 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Central & South Asia and Europe.

New Delhi, 5th June, 2023: SUGAM “Sustainable Green Airports Mission”, a publication on the various initiatives taken up by Airports Authority of India (AAI) on sustainability was launched on World Environment Day by Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in the presence of the Gen. (Dr.) V.K. Singh (Retd.),Rajiv Bansal, Secretary,MoCA,Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman, AAI. This booklet highlights the various initiatives taken up by AAI on sustainability and becoming carbon neutral, in line with the Panchamrit goals declared by the PMa at COP26. The objective of this booklet is to document and inform all stakeholders about the initiatives being taken by AAI, learn over time, track progress, and seek cooperation in enhancing actions towards efficient and sustainable airport operations and achieving the target of carbon neutrality. At the launch of the booklet, Jyotiraditya Scindia appreciated the efforts and initiatives taken by the AAI to publish SUGAM which highlights AAI’s commitment towards sustainable development and concern towards climate change. SUGAM is the first such effort showcasing the sustainability initiatives taken at AAI airports, emphasising renewable energy and energy-efficient measures. It also provides an in-depth analysis of energy performance and emission intensities across Indian airports. AAI has devised a roadmap to shift from fossil fuel-based energy to green power from renewable sources to reduce the carbon footprint. AAI has also planned to optimise energy efficiency and onsite solar capacity, and to adopt other renewable energy options to switch over its operations on 100 percent renewable energy. AAI is already meeting about two thirds of its energy requirements through renewable energy. Encouraging the usage of green energy at the airports, Solar plants with a combined commissioned capacity of 55 MWp have been installed & commissioned at AAI airports with 42 airports running on 100% Renewable Energy. SUGAM, developed under the guidance of Hon’ble Union Minister, encapsulates his vision to and commitment to India’s updated 2030 Nationally Determined Contributions and long-term net zero goal by 2070. The booklet aims to promote transparency and knowledge sharing, encouraging other airports to learn from AAI’s experiences and contribute to the collective goal of achieving net zero emissions.

Dubai, 01 June 2023: flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, today marks 14 years of operations. On 01 June 2009, the carrier welcomed its first passengers on board its inaugural flight FZ 157 from Dubai to Beirut. Since then, flydubai has been changing the way people travel around the region by enabling them to travel to more places, more often. Commenting on the airline’s 14th anniversary, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai, said:“flydubai has been at the forefront of opening previously underserved destinations from Dubai; facilitating flows of trade and tourism, and strengthening the cultural and social ties between people from different countries. flydubai has proven its ability to adapt and take decisive actions, even during challenging times, thanks to its operational efficiencies and robust business model. This was evident in the way the airline navigated the challenges during the pandemic: preserving the workforce, continuing to grow its network and returning to pre-pandemic levels in record time. All of which was achieved capitalising on its internal resources. We congratulate flydubai on its fourteenth anniversary and recognise the hard work and dedication of the entire team for making this success possible. We look forward to even more success in the future in line with the vision of the UAE’s Leadership.” Over the 14 years, the airline has achieved many milestones, including: • Created anetwork of 120 destinations spanning from Italy to Thailand in 52 countries. • Opened more than 75 new routes that did not previously have direct air links to Dubai or were not served by a UAE national carrier from Dubai. • Grown its work force to almost 5,000 skilled professionals representing 136 nationalities. • Grown its fleet to 78 Boeing 737 aircraft. • Carried more than 90 million passengers. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive officer at flydubai, said: “14 years ago, our first flight took off with the commitment to make travel more accessible, supporting Dubai’s economic and tourism goals while keeping passengers at the core of everything we do. I am proud of the growth we have achieved along the way, we have evolved to adapt to the changing market and customer needs, we have played a vital role Dubai’s aviation success story and we continue to invest in further improving our operational efficiencies to overall customer experience to exceed expectations and challenge conventions of travel in the region.” “Our recent record financial performance, the continued investment in our colleagues and product innovation, and the ongoing recruitment drive are key indicators of how well-positioned we are to reach new heights. Every new milestone we achieve is only possible with the continued hard work and commitment of everyone at flydubai,” added al Ghaith.

New Delhi, 19th May 2023: The Ministry of Civil Aviation in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) organized a curtain raiser ahead of Wings India 2024 in New Delhi on 18th May, 2023.Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel unveiled the event and promo video and released the Wings India 2024 brochure. Civil Aviation Minister Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said that the Government is giving special focus on creating capacity for the country’s fast-growing aviation market, by changing its role from a regulator to a facilitator. Addressing the curtain raiser event for Wings India 2024 in New Delhi on Thursday, Union Civil Aviation and Steel Minister said that the government has adopted a 3-pronged strategy of creating capacities, removing bottlenecks and simplifying processes, that has helped the sector to leap from 74 airports to 148 airports in the past nine years. Setting a target for the industry he said that the number of airports, heliports, and waterdromes will go up to more than 200 in the next three to four years. Sharing his thoughts on the growing potential of the industry to become the world’s leading aviation market by 2047, the Minister added “As India sails on its journey from the Amrit Kaal to Shatabdi Kaal (2047), Indian aviation will also transform from being the third largest domestic market/eighteenth largest international market/seventh largest domestic and international market, to become the largest aviation market globally”. Reiterating the government’s commitment to creating an international aviation hub in the country, he said a large number of air services and open skies agreements inked between India and other countries would facilitate this growth target. Civil Aviation Secretary Shri Rajiv Bansal in his address said that major airports of the country are growing and many of them have already implemented the expansion plans. He said, currently India is connected to less than 100 destinations globally, but there is a huge potential to improve international connectivity. Shri Bansal also added that there has been growth in the small aircraft segment, he said, “Newer airports are getting inaugurated under the UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme and it will enable more people from tier-2 and tier-3 cities to come to the domestic aviation map. He said that the large order by Indian aviation companies indicates that this dream of creating international hubs in India will soon be a reality.” Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman, Airport Authority of India, Mr. Remi Maillard, MD, Airbus, Shailesh Pathak, Secretary General, FICCI and other officials from MoCA, AAI, representatives from Foreign missions and industry were also present. Scheduled to take place from 18th to 21st January 2024 in Hyderabad, Wings India 2024, is expected to be Asia’s largest event on Civil Aviation on Commercial, General and Business Aviation. Wings India 2024 will bring together various stakeholders and participants from all over the world from the aviation industry to promote collaboration, showcase innovations and explore business opportunities.

Dubai,17th May 2023: flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, announced a new partnership with Air Canada to give customers flying between Canada, the Middle East, East Africa, Indian Subcontinent and Southern Asia more convenient travel options.Pending final regulatory approval, Air Canada’s marketing code will be placed on nine routes operated from Dubai by flydubai, giving customers the ability to travel to these markets with the issuance of a single ticket. The nine routes include Bahrain, Dammam, Jeddah, Medina and Muscat in the GCC as well as flights to Colombo and Karachi in the Indian Subcontinent. Additionally, through an interline arrangement, customers will be able to seamlessly connect in Dubai to more than 60 destinations that flydubai flies to in the Middle East, East Africa and Southern Asia – including Djibouti, Kathmandu and the Maldives. Of these destinations, more than 30 are unique to flydubai and not flown by other partners of Air Canada. Commenting on the codeshare announcement, Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said, “we are very pleased to be adding Air Canada to our list of partners and to offer their passengers a seamless travel experience on the flydubai network. We look forward to growing this partnership that offers passengers the benefits and the convenience of connecting via the Dubai aviation hub and we look forward to welcoming them on board soon.” Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada, said,“Air Canada is very pleased to partner with flydubai, further expanding our connectivity to the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, a growing source of immigration and travel to Canada. This new partnership is a perfect complement to Air Canada’s nonstop service to Dubai from Toronto and Vancouver, and growing our relationship with Emirates, flydubai’s codeshare partner. Together we look forward to bringing together our networks and building a better experience for our customers.” The airlines also plan on further improving the connection process in Dubai and are working toward introducing expanded features and benefits for one another’s loyalty programme members to be announced later this year.

Jeddah,17th May 2023: SAUDIA Group – Saudi Airlines, flyadeal, and Saudi Private Aviation have announced its operational plan for Hajj season 2023, allocating over one million and 200 thousand seats for pilgrims from all over the world. The integrated plan includes optimizing the use of SAUDIA group’s current fleet of 164 aircraft, with the provision of an additional fleet of 12 aircraft. SAUDIA group will be transporting pilgrims from more than 100 scheduled destinations and 14 seasonal destinations to 6 airports in the Kingdom located in Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Medina, Taif, and Yanbu. The 8 thousand cockpit and cabin crew can speak a total of 42 different languages and will graciously serve the guests during their trips; reflecting the generous nature of Saudi hospitality. The plan ensures synergy from all SAUDIA Group subsidiaries, especially those concerned with providing services to pilgrims, specifically, Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI), Saudi Ground Services (SGS), and Saudi Airlines Catering Company (SACC), all of which will operate at full capacity and around the clock throughout the Hajj season. SAUDIA aims to provide the best air transport and logistic services, as well as other integrated services across all locations through digital platforms and qualified personnel to serve pilgrims upon arrival and departure. Amer Alkhushail, Chief Hajj and Umrah Officer at SAUDIA Group, said, “Through our accumulated experience, capable employees, and our relentless pursuit to offer the best technical services that guarantee a smooth travel experience, SAUDIA Group is ready to implement a new Hajj plan. This operational plan is in line with the directives of the Supreme Hajj Committee, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior; the Central Hajj Committee headed by His Royal Highness Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Region; and in cooperation with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program.” Al Khushail also highlighted the importance of integrating performance with various government stakeholders at airports like the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) along with all companies involved in organizing Hajj trips inside and outside the Kingdom. Al Khushail revealed that Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina will receive the first flights arriving in the Kingdom on May 21. Recently, SAUDIA Group has concluded a number of agreements with various authorities to serve pilgrims in many countries, as part of its endeavor to increase its operational share and invest in its reputation by providing air transport services in a distinct spiritual atmosphere. In addition, SAUDIA Group aims to achieve operational efficiency while fully complying with safety standards, which are its top priorities. The company has mobilized its human and digital capabilities to provide the best services and implement the plan through various paths, including the performance monitoring team, the terminal operations centre team, as well as the team in charge of the follow-up and pre-coordination with all sectors and relevant authorities. All these teams work around the clock and with direct follow-up from SAUDIA’s senior leadership. SAUDIA Group provides pilgrims with many distinguished services, including issuance of boarding passes for the arrival and return flights from international departure and domestic terminals; staffing King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah and Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport (Madinah Airport) with navigators and employees fluent in the various languages; arranging the dispatch of Zamzam water bottles to various destinations; and providing additional flights for pilgrims wishing to travel to Medina by air. This is offered in addition to securing the operational requirements, including staff, labor and ground equipment, in proportion to the size of the operation. Therefore, SAUDIA Group has been working to train all front-line employees in the areas of Hajj protocol, crowd management, dealing with crises and responding to emergency plans. As part of its endeavor to provide pilgrims with comprehensive services and enrich their travel experience, SAUDIA has updated its in-flight Islamic content including religious programs, especially those dedicated to raising awareness of Hajj. The updates include more than 134 hours of various religious programs and 590 hours of Quran recitations, in addition to many Islamic programs available in several languages such as Arabic, English, Indonesian, Chinese and other languages spoken by pilgrims. Moreover, SAUDIA’s Inflight Entertainment system offers a unique collection of educational e-books on how to perform Hajj and Umrah in more than 14 languages. SAUDIA Group has also expanded its Hajj season plan activities to include sharing awareness messages to pilgrims in their languages through the official means in their countries, Hajj missions, Hajj organisations present in Makkah and Madinah, and across Hajj residences. In these messages, the company clarifies all matters related to the pilgrims’ journey, including details related to baggage, its weights and sizes, as well as mechanisms for accepting it at airports upon departure after the end of the Hajj, in order to facilitate their procedures beyond expectations.

Delhi, 15th May 2023: Jazeera Airways has achieved a net profit of KD2.3 million for the first quarter (Q1) of 2023,compared to KD 3.8 million in the first quarter of 2022, when the strong demand post-pandemic was reflected in higher fares. Total revenue for the quarter reached KD48.3 million, up 35.2%, while operating profit was at KD3.62 million.Passenger traffic rose by 56.6% to 1.1 million in this quarter andload factor reached 82.1% with an increase of 6.9% compared to the Q1 2022. Announcing the results, Marwan Boodai, Chairman, Jazeera Airways said: “2023 has started off on a positive note for Jazeera Airways. Despite fuel prices putting pressure on margins for the first quarter, a continued focus on operating costs enabled us to deliver profits in line with our aggressive growth targets and on the track to be a fantastic year. Load factor in this quarter reached 82.1%, the highest ever for Jazeera in any quarter, especially for Q1 which is typically not the strongest. This demonstrates the strength of our business model and sound validation from our customers.” First Quarter 2023 Review Jazeera Airways launched direct flights in February from Kuwait to Moscow, the first airline to fly the route. In March, the airline also started flying to Samarkand, its third destination in Uzbekistan following Tashkent and Namangan.New destinations have been announced for Q2 including Larnaca, Cyprus, Belgrade, Serbia and Tirana, Albania. In addition, the airline also announced the resumption of its flights to Prague, Czech Republic and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in the summer months. The Jazeera T5 terminal, was under refurbishment with three new restaurants opening for travellers – two on landside and one airside, operational since February. 2023 Outlook Over the next few months of this financial year, Jazeera will welcome four additional aircraft into its fleet. Following an “Approved Training Organization” certification from the Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last year, Jazeera Airways placed an order for an Airbus simulator. Expected to be delivered by the end of 2023, this simulator will enable in-house pilot training and monitoring to ensure the highest levels of safety for both crew and passengers. The airline also intends to collaborate with a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approved training organization to launch our own Multi-Pilot License (MPL) program.