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The Ethiopian Airlines / Airports CEO once stated that him as ‘a moving technical library’. Having over 15 years of working at numerous key airports globally, Mohammed Imran Abdul calls himself as a master of smart and innovative airports. The concept of airport has evolved with times and today, whenever we travel or transit through any of the airports across the globe, we notice a significant enhancements of experiences. This concept is based on the Smart and innovative Airport systems where high level of technology is implemented and executed by the best of brain working as airport planning and engineering experts. One such personality is Mohammed Imran Abdul, who has over 15 years of working experience at numerous key airports globally. His wide portfolio includes High-rise Buildings, Airports Master Plan, HMR Metro Rail Project Construction Engineering and Techno commercial operations. As he proudly mentions his successful role and contribution towards the setup of smart technology at various airports including RGIA Hyderabad, DXB Dubai, Doha and few in Africa where passenger volume is around 100 million per annum. Mr. Imran is a pioneer in large-scale infrastructure and his skills in Innovative Advanced Dimensions make him a leader in aviation technology. His professional expertise into offering multi-disciplinary services among a sizable pool of resource including design, installation, testing and commissioning of various airport systems internationally is a testament of his professional service. Mr. Imran has experience in 9 International and 2 VIP terminals, 23 Domestic Airport Projects in India, UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Ethiopia, other African aviation projects. He has more than 15+ years of experience in Airports Master Plan design with services of master integration systems, Master Planning Airports of large-scale infrastructure which cover the CNS/ATM / ATC stands for Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic Management.He has successfully participated in feasibility studies of Manila Philippines, Bujumbura International Airport- Burundi and other African airport projects as the Head Office requirements. “My vision is to empower the youth. I want to ensure our generations are aware what is the scope of their future growth in smart modern airports. I want to share my knowledge with them so that every young engineer in the aviation industry can learn and become an important asset of a country like mine having huge experience in the aviation industry.” Role in Smart Airport development Technology is changing in every smart airport, so my focus is more on implementing system at the airport which includes CNS, ILS, AGF etc. There are different types of monitoring point at the airport starting from parking till the passengers passes the immigration and security hold area and board the aircraft. All these things are digitilsed in the servers, both during departure and arrival. So, I am involved in setup of all these enhanced technologies at the airport as per regulatory standard of the respective countries and EASA and FAA. The Airport Technology The system uses various systems including satellite systems and varying levels of automation to achieve a seamless global Air Traffic Management system with ILS, AGL,CFR, Terminals, 2Bay MRO, E-Commerce, Cargo, Data centers, and participation in tender bids, conducting the Feasibility and obstruction studies to build the new airports master plan with civil aviation requirements and also, Participation in Feasibility studies of Manila Philippines, Bujumbura International Airport – Burundi, and other African Airports Projects. Furthermore, in Airport Systems [Baggage Handling System (BHS), Material Handling System (MHS), Passenger Boarding Bridges (PBB), Aircraft Service Equipment (ASE), Hold Baggage Screening (HBS), and Horizontal and vertical transport Systems (HVTS)]. Professional Association Mr. Imran has worked with Bechtel, Hill International and CPG Airports for Preliminary concept design with MEP coordination after the IFC stage. His role also involved review of documentation and approval to coming interface and integration of the handover of STD 2,3 EDS X-rays TSA with EASA compliance of screening levels for hold baggage system, comprising EDS ( ECAC std 2&3), Explosive trace detection system (ETD) and conventional X-ray machines for Oversize bags and terminal bags including threat containment vessel (TCV) and Cargo/E-commerce MHS/ETV/BHS/TTS – Tilt Tray Sorter System with LLC /HLL/BSM/SAC with MDS Testing & Commissioning and ORAT operation, etc. He uses to ensure the overall operations to compliance and passengers safety. Conducting Critical Feasibility studies and supporting various parties to get accurate reports *Environmental and Social impact assessment to comply with the design as per the standard of ICAO, IATA,FAA, EASA, and TSA for the master plan development. *Original ground topography survey assessments with the Obstacle Limitation Surfaces Assessment Studies. *Aircraft Movement Simulation Studies as the Airside Operations. *Interference modelling and simulation for ILS localizer with obstruction study for ILS localizer to check locations against the operational requirement for Signal distortion for Radar & MLAT systems and VOR/DME other CNS/ATM / ATC systems and AGL / Runway incursion due to high air traffic with operational efficiency due to congestion on movement areas. *Fire strategy compliance for the overall design, specification, materials, and sequence of operations during Emergency operations of CFR stations as per the SMS -ICAO. *Airports Special systems design compliance for the Architecture of AODB /RMS / DATA centers and Master Integration/interface between Mechanical / Electrical /ICT sub systems etc… Key Mega large-scale infrastructure Airport Master Plan Development over the US Billion dollar projects delivered for Smooth Operations ORAT milestone achievements. *HYD Hyderabad International Airport *DBX Dubai International Airport *DIA Doha International Airport *MCT Muscat International Airport *SLL Salalah International Airport *AOM Adam Airbase *ADD Addis Ababa International Airport with many other African Aviation Projects. *DXN Noida International Airport *LKO Lucknow International Airport Lucknow Airport *GAU Guwahati International Airport Guwahati Airport India Making Tomorrow a Better Place for Young Engineers, Mr.Imran believes in the principle that “ Never stop learning because life never stop teaching.”

New Delhi, 12 January 2024: Finnair has appointed Turkka Kuusisto as its CEO. He will start his role on 11 July 2024 at the latest. Kuusisto joins Finnair from Posti Group Corporation, where he has served as the CEO since 2020. Prior to his role as the CEO at Posti Group Corporation, Kuusisto served in senior leadership positions at Posti Group Corporation and in Lindorff Group. “I am happy to welcome Turkka Kuusisto to take the helm of Finnair and drive the next phases of Finnair’s strategy. Finnair has restored its profitability after the historic double crisis, and the company is well-positioned to continue to build a sustainable future, offering excellent connections via its Helsinki hub to both Finns and customers traveling between Europe and Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas”, says Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae, Chair of the Board of Directors, Finnair. “Turkka brings to Finnair his strong understanding of complex industries and his proven people leadership and strategy skills, which will benefit Finnair as Finnair now moves to the next phase in its strategy”, Suvanto-Harsaae says. “Finnair embodies to me Finnish spirit and global connections, and it has a long and unique heritage as a 100-year-old airline. I am excited and humbled to take on the role of CEO in this iconic company. Working side by side with all Finnair colleagues and carefully listening to our customers, I trust our joint journey will be a successful one”, says Turkka Kuusisto. Finnair’s current CEO Topi Manner will leave the company on 15 January 2024 to later take on the role of CEO at Elisa Corporation. Jaakko Schildt, Chief Operating Officer of Finnair, will act as an interim CEO between 15 January and the start of the new CEO.

Exclusive Interview When work becomes passion, it leads towards achieving milestone. One such personality is the young and rising entrepreneur, Aditya Singhal, Director& CEO, Karwaan International Air Services who has forayed into the business of Aviation with vision to transform flying experiences for the elites. In an exclusive interview with Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World, he shares his journey & thoughts towards the Karwaan. Excerpts… Q. Brief us about the services done by Karwaan International? A: Our Company’s primary focus is on Private Charters and elevating the experience of a customer irrespective of the duration of the flight. For Karwaan, “Client is King”. We abide by this ethos to create an impressionable environment for our customers. We focus on Private charters as our core focus includes corporate flights, celebrity flying, and government flights on business aircraft. Karwaan is slowly covering ground in MICE charters as well. In the past year, we have handled 5-6 big projects that involved a transfer of more than 200 passengers per project. Our regular clientele has always been satisfied and pro motive of our expansion. With this experience, we are expecting a jump in our revenues and flow of inquiries for commercial aircraft as well. Other areas of prominence for Karwaan are helicopter Signature tours to Char-dham, and Vaishno devi and political flying. Karwaan is also planning to improve and expand its services in the air ambulance, repatriation flights and cargo charters. We are already working on Aircraft sales and Consultancy with Aerosource India, and with BAMS India we offer Aircraft Management services for both domestic and International aircraft. Q: Who are your potential clients and in which region do you have the maximum outreach in terms of client services? A: Most of the corporate clientele we handle is based in the North and West of India. Our potential clientele is anyone who loves a good experience and is looking for a hassle-free private flying experience. It can be high net-worth Individuals, Industrialists, Celebrities, and Politicians. We can provide maximum outreach for flights originating from north and west of India, as our team is strategically located in Delhi, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. Internationally we have done flights to the Middle East, Europe and a few locations in Asia Pacific, to ensure a smooth experience we choose our operators very carefully after verifying all documents related to the aircraft and the company. This helps in providing confidence to the client that their money is secured as international flights are usually a big transaction. Q: How did the journey of Karwaan start and what’s the company’s vision? A: The journey of Karwaan started with the vision of elevating the current service industry. A lot of people have been working on the aggregator model, but we wanted to make a difference with the level of service we are offering to our customers. We believe that booking a charter flight should be a hassle-free and smooth experience for our clients and also that they make an informed decision about the aircraft they want to fly on. We had seen a trend in the industry that short-duration domestic flights were not given much attention, so we held on to this point and worked on improving the in-flight services and booking procedure of the same. This led on to come up with personalised airport visits at every station and go above and beyond for our client’s comfort whether it be a 1-hour flight or an 8-hour long flight. Our focus was to provide the client with the best possible options available to them and give them the best possible experience. Q: What are your plans and how do you project to achieve them? A: Our main focus is to establish more international clients by expanding our reach to different countries, the main point of attention is to grab the Dubai, Europe and Asia-Pacific markets. To do so we we are trying to strengthen our network of international operators and other service providers so that our clients can have better confidence in our services. We have made it a priority to attend airshows and trade show events in these countries to understand the market better and gain more insights into the business aviation industry based in the above-mentioned regions. Q: Your segment is highly competitive. What’s the USP that makes you different from others working in the same domain? A: Business aviation has always been a niche market but with more new players entering the industry, the market is becoming more cluttered and competitive. But this is also true that the industry is cut-throat only perseverance, service and trust survive. Our USP is our client’s trust in our services and the ease of doing business we provide. We are dedicated to our clients’ comfort when it comes to being different from others working in the same domain. We do not try to push the most profitable deal but it should be the most feasible one. An informed and transparent choice is provided to every client who interacts with us. Q: Any plans to start your own NSOP with your own set of fleets? A: Business Aircraft Management Services and Aerosource India already have an NSOP and NOC licence respectively. Karwaan plans to move towards a lease-to-buy model and fractional ownership model as and when the DGCA takes the necessary steps to easily implement the same. Karwaan does not want to accumulate more fixed assets as that can lead to more liabilities for that we can always liaise with BAMS or Aerosource for the same. There have been ample discussions on the Fractional Ownership model, and DGCA has also held multiple meetings with various stakeholders to execute the same. We already have a fixed number of clients who fly a certain hour on different aircraft, we do not want to limit ourselves to a particular type of aircraft as Karwaan. As our USP is offering choice to our clients we shall work forward in expanding our vision towards leasing or fractionally acquiring

Gurugram, 27th October 2023: Air India today announced the appointment of Capt Klaus Goersch as in a newly created role of Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer that will oversee Flight Operations, Engineering, Ground Operations, Integrated Operations Control (IOCC) and Cabin Crew functions. Capt Goersch is a licensed B777/787 pilot who has previously held similar positions in both British Airways and Air Canada, and will be based out of Air India’s new headquarters in Gurugram. Incumbent Chief of Operations Capt RS Sandhu, who had already extended his service with Air India beyond his superannuation date, will transition to an advisory role with particular focus on the harmonisation of the four Tata airlines’ operating procedures, the Airbus A350 entry-into-service program and assisting the team establishing Air India’s new Training Academy. Welcoming Capt Goersch onboard, Campbell Wilson, CEO & Managing Director of Air India said, “We are pleased to have Klaus join the Air India family. Having worked at some of the best airlines in the world, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that is valuable to the ongoing transformation at Air India. At Air India, we remain committed to building top leadership as we continue to invest in all the resources that are required to take the airline to the upper echelons of global aviation.” Air India also announced other senior announcements to further strengthen its management team. Capt Manish Uppal, who transitioned from Air Asia India a few months ago, has been appointed as Senior Vice President Flight Operations, while Capt Henry Donohoe’s Corporate Safety, Security and Quality role will be expanded to include Emergency Response, and be retitled Senior Vice President Safety, Security and Quality. Pankaj Handa joins to lead Ground Operations, Choorah Singh joins as Divisional Vice President Integrated Operations Control and JuLi Ng joins as Divisional Vice President Cabin Crew. They all will report to Capt Goersch, as well Capt Uppal and Sisira Kanta Dash, Senior Vice President Engineering. Concurrently, the Inflight Product & Service Design functions headed by Sandeep Verma will move to Rajesh Dogra’s Customer Experience portfolio so that the latter has oversight of all customer interfaces. Capt Goersch, Dogra and Capt Donohoe will report directly to Campbell Wilson, as will existing Management Committee members Nipun Aggarwal, Dr Satya Ramaswamy, Dr Suresh Dutt Tripathi and Vinod Hejmadi, whose roles remain unchanged. “These changes have been made with a view to managing succession, streamlining the organisation, optimising talent from within the Tata airline group and positioning it strongly for future growth and success,” Wilson added.

Mumbai, 11th August 2023: Collinson Group has appointed Rishi Kapoor as Chief Transformation Officer. Rishi is based in London and he will report directly to CEO Christopher Evans. Rishi’s appointment will significantly strengthen Collinson’s transformation capability, with responsibility for driving a cohesive approach to overall business change, including supporting on existing transformation programmes across product, data, and technology. Joining from British Airways, Rishi has over twenty-five years’ experience of leading business transformation teams. He recently concluded a four-year secondment at the oneworld Alliance as Chief Transformation Officer, where he led its Digital, Customer Experience, Commercial and Member Services functions, playing an instrumental role in developing its branded lounge and loyalty upgrade propositions. “We are delighted to welcome an individual of Rishi’s calibre to the Collinson family. He joins us with extensive experience and expertise within the travel sector and will be key to accelerating our vision to create the world’s most valued travel ecosystem,” said Christopher Evans, CEO, Collinson. “Rishi joins us at an exciting time in our company’s journey where we look to power the next phase of our growth. He becomes the most recent addition of a newly structured leadership team, created to enhance our commercial agility, operational efficiency and ultimately helping us to deliver excellence in proposition and service offering to our customers, clients, and partners.” Prior to his secondment at oneworld, Rishi held several other senior roles at British Airways; responsible for implementing the airline’s joint venture businesses, with American Airlines, Iberia and Finnair across the Atlantic, and with Japan Airlines, and Finnair and Iberia across Siberia. He also oversaw the complex integration of BMI into British Airways – the last significant airline merger in the UK and regarded as one of the most successful worldwide. “I’m thrilled to be joining Collinson,” adds Rishi. “Having worked with the organisation in the past, I know first-hand the chemistry, expertise and passion of the people here. I very much look forward to being part of the team, and championing transformation to help ensure the business is best placed to shape the travel experience of tomorrow.”

Paris, 15th July 2023: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and H.E. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France, jointly addressed a group of leading Indian and French CEOs at Quai d’Orsay in Paris. The Forum consisted of CEOs from diverse sectors including aviation, manufacturing, defence, technology, energy, among others. Prime Minister acknowledged the role played by these industry leaders in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting economic cooperation between India and France. He highlighted India’s progress in renewables, startups, pharma, IT, digital payments and infrastructure and the various initiatives undertaken to foster business. The Prime Minister encouraged the CEOs to utilize the investment opportunities in India and be a part of India’s growth story. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation level talks with H.E. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France at the Elysee Palace. Both leaders held extensive discussions on wide range of areas of bilateral cooperation including defence and security, civil nuclear, science and technology, energy, trade and investment, space, climate action and people to people ties. Discussions also covered India’s G20 Presidency, Indo-Pacific, and regional and global issues of mutual interest. Ambitious outcome documents, including “Horizon 2047: Charting the future of India-France Strategic Partnership”, were adopted. Prime Minister also extended invite to President Macron in New Delhi for the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September 2023. Courtesy: PIB

  You lead such a high life which must include frequent travel. Which is your preferred airline or business jet that tops your list? Prof. (Dr.) Parin Somani has travelled to more than 107 countries globally, helping humanity through her vast knowledge and skills. She has conducted and shared her expertise with societies internationally, primarily in the areas of education, women empowerment, and youth development. This has led Prof. (Dr.) Parin Somani towards the use of multiple airlines to serve humanity at large, facilitating skill development and knowledge acquisition. Prof. (Dr.) Parin Somani is Director of London Organisation of Skills Development, an Independent Academic Scholar, TEDx Speaker, Educator, International Motivational speaker, Author, Writer, Banker, Humanitarian, Philanthropist and Multi-International Award Winner. With the very busy lifestyle that she leads, Prof. (Dr. )Parin Somani must reach academic conferences and high-profile events safely and in a timely manner. Hence, excellent travel arrangements and reliable airlines are of utmost importance. Prof. (Dr. )Parin Somani has been fortunate to use a multitude of different airlines over the years, some of her most preferred airlines include: Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Air New Zealand, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways. In addition, Prof. Dr. Parin Somani has travelled to all the twenty-eight States of India and eight Union Territories, and for these flights her preferred and Best local airline is Indigo. Any interesting travel experience if you would like to share with us? Frequently Prof. (Dr. ) Parin Somani is invited to national/ international conferences, and award ceremonies where she has spoken in the capacity of a Chief Guest, Guest of honour, Inaugurator, Keynote Speaker, Valedictorian, Chairperson, Presenter, and Interviewee. Her travelling schedules are based upon the estimated time the event she is attending is scheduled to complete. However, this can be challenging when events are delayed, and she needs to catch a flight. An interesting event occurred on 23rd April 2022 when Prof. (Dr. )Parin Somani attended an event in Ooty located in Tamil Nadu. Prof. Dr. Parin Somani was sat on the main stage as she was invited as a Chief Guest where she delivered a motivational and inspiring talk. Upon event completion, Prof. (Dr. )Parin Somani who was travelling with her youngest daughter departed from the event in good time, leaving enough time to reach the airport prior to their flight. However, on the way Prof. (Dr. )Parin Somani and her daughter encountered several challenges delaying their arrival to the airport. Air travellers will be aware that it is usual to arrive at an airport approximately two to three hours before a flight. During this time individuals have time to check in, undergo security checks and board the flight. However, in this instance Prof. (Dr. )Parin Somani and her daughter arrived at the airport only twenty- five minutes departure. This left Prof. Dr. Parin Somani and her daughter in a state of panic because if they missed this flight, they would be late to attend the next event Prof. Dr. Parin Somani was speaking at. Prof. (Dr.) Parin Somani found the staff extremely helpful, and they helped to completely ease the whole airport process. As other passengers were waiting to board the aircraft, the complete security checking area was clear, this enabled Prof. (Dr. ) Parin Somani and her daughter to check-in and complete security checks without queuing . During their security check, suddenly an announcement was made: the flight that Prof. (Dr.) Parin Somani and her daughter were due to board had been delayed. Prof. (Dr. )Parin Somani and her daughter were relieved, this gave them time to freshen up, have a snack and board the aircraft comfortably. Prof. (Dr. )Parin Somani was appreciative to all the airport staff who had helped them. In addition, Prof.( Dr.) Parin Somani is extremely grateful to the supreme who has always supported her, looked after her and helped her during her journeys. Would you like to share any interesting observations for the aviation sector as our readers will be curious to hear from you? Prof. (Dr.) Parin Somani believes that the aviation sector is progressing and continued to progress during the covid-19 pandemic. Although there was a decrease in the number of people travelling due to lockdown and border closures, there was an increase in cargo activity between 2020 and 2021 as aircrafts were utilised as freighters. According to research this has helped nations to distribute the covid-19 vaccinations safely and in controlled temperatures with medical supplies globally. Having spoken with numerous individuals belonging to the aviation sector during their travels, Prof. (Dr.) Parin Somani has observed that the aviation industry is concerned with the aviation’s role in climate change and the reduction of using fossil fuels. Therefore, airlines are aiming to utilise more sustainable aviation fuels with a gradual transition towards solutions including electric and hydrogen. Prof. Dr. Parin Somani has also observed that when an individual travels for ten hours or more, they lose approximately 4% of their bodily fluid. For women this can be approximately 1.6 litres of water and for men 2 litres. It can be attributed to the lack of humidity and oxygen within the cabin. Hence, Prof. (Dr.) Parin Somani advises to ensure passengers stay hydrated and drink enough water when they fly and aim to undergo light exercises like rotating ankles and walking at intervals. You were awarded the “Best Editor” for your book “Lockdown Impacts” which has been recognised by the World Book of Records as the ‘Thickest Book in the World’ and your poems are recognised by the India Book of Records. How can one relate with the inputs of the book and enhance their thought process? Prof. (Dr.) Parin Somani is the editor of Lockdown Impacts and simultaneously she has written a book chapter entitled “Lockdown Impact on Education” which has been published by ESN publications,that has been recognised by the World Book of Records. However, This was the fifth World Book of Records achieved by Prof. (Dr.) Parin Somani. It is a highly acclaimed

Sweden, 18.06.2023: Swedish electric airplane maker Heart Aerospace has appointed John S. Slattery, as non-executive chairman of its Board of Directors. John continues to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at GE Aerospace. “I’m excited to take on this role at such a decisive time for our industry,” John says. “We are accountable to future generations, and if we are to reach carbon neutrality, we need to act with vision, courage, curiosity, and the sense of urgency demonstrated by the team at Heart Aerospace.” “The segment targeted by Heart Aerospace is ripe for disruption. It will not only help with decarbonization of commercial aviation but will also democratize travel bringing commercial flight back to communities long since not served or indeed airports that are losing service today. The value proposition of the ES-30 regional hybrid electric airplane brings a classic ‘blue-ocean’ strategy to the market where everyone will benefit – including the environment.” Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, says he is honored to bring John on board: “He is one of the defining industry leaders of the modern era, and he has a relentless drive towards decarbonizing air travel. As Heart grows as a company, John is a perfect fit for us. We couldn’t be more excited.” Prior to joining GE, a leading provider of aircraft jet and turboprop engines and aircraft systems, John served as President & CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation. Before Embraer, John spent fifteen years in various executive roles at leading commercial aerospace advisory, aircraft leasing, and aviation banking organizations. John is a Fellow at The Royal Aeronautical Society and President Emeritus of The Wings Club Foundation. He sits on the board of directors at ORBIS International and the board of governors at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. John also remains active at his alma mater, University of Limerick, as an adjunct professor in the Kemmy School of Business where he received his MBA and more recently an Honorary Doctorate in Economic Science.

9th June 2023, New Delhi: The farewell party for H.E. Archil Dzuliashvili, the Ambassador of Georgia to India, organized by Shivaz and Mandira Rai of DUDigital Global, was held at The Albatross Qutub Golf Course in New Delhi. The event began with a round of golf, where the participants, including diplomats and friends of H.E. Archil Dzuliashvili, had the opportunity to enjoy the sport. A small video was also played featuring farewell messages for H.E. Archil Dzuliashvili from his diplomatic friends. Since it was also an Independence day for Georgia, a cake was cut to celebrate the occasion. Among the notable guests present at the farewell party were Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi, the Korean Ambassador, the Chilean Ambassador, and many other diplomats who showed their appreciation for the diplomatic service of H.E. Archil Dzuliashvili. Other key guests included Khairudeen Othman of the Malaysia Embassy, DCM Mr. Amrizal Fadzli Rajali of the Malaysia Embassy, H.E. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, Former Secretary MEA, representatives from The Great Eastern Shipping Company Limited (GT Gurpreet S Tukral), H.E. Jason Hall of Jamaica, H.E. Eric Garcetti of the United States of America, Brendan Ward of the Ireland Embassy, Hyun Hoe Ban of UNICEF, H.E. Juan Angulo of the Embassy of Chile, Adel Chaaf, Consul of Algeria, Mr. Abel Aballe Despaigne, CDA of Cuba, Philip Espi of the French Consul, H.E. Sinisa of Serbian, Gerli Roos of Estonia Consul, H.E. Reuben Gauci of Malta High Commission, H.E. Teodoro Maldonado of Ecuador, Carlo Ferrigno, Italian Counsellor.

At the Arab Aviation Summit in Ras Al Khaimah, in a candid discussion Mr. Adel Ali, CEO, Air Arabia shares his thought on his airlines expansion plans, adding new hubs, India operation and more…   What would like to share about Air Arabia expansion plans in terms of fleets and new routes? We have ordered for 120 aircrafts in 2019 for which deliveries’ are starting from 2024 onwards. We have our hubs growing and growth will continue to develop. Dubai has asked for 50000 more aeroplane seats with India on weekly basis. So, any plans if Air Arabia is also seeking a share into it? I am not aware of what Dubai has asked for because seats requirement is between the Govt of UAE and Govt of India. This is a Civil Aviation Bilateral procedure and whatever the seats govt gets than they come and decide which airline should get it. So, I don’t get involved with those details as I am not aware of it and I don’t want to give you wrong information. Recently Abu Dhabi is added as one of the hub for Air Arabia with flights starting for Kolkata. How is the response of the newly added sector? I think Kolkata has just started but we will be doing from Abu Dhabi to adding few key airports in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Trivandrum and all. India is always a good route because naturally due to population there is a huge Indian community living in UAE and in every city within UAE. So, we are looking to make the life of much more people pleasant and to be able to travel at a price at much comfort level. Your view on the India Market as Air Arabia connects almost 15 cities? For me India is a continent and not a country. It’s a very good and beautiful place. India is having a huge population and its economy is growing with at positive strength. Overall Indian economy is good and in whole quality of life is improving. And that is creating much more travel within India, to India and from India. So, one place where travel will continue to grow, India will be one of them. Interview is conducted by Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor of Aviation World. He has attended Arab Aviation Summit in Ras Al Khaimah on the exclusive invitation.