Recent News

Delhi,6th Nov 2023: Safari Express Cargo Ltd. based in Nairobi, Kenya, in its initiative to enhance its cargo management capabilities has partnered with Cargo Flash Infotech,provider of air logistics IT solutions. Through this strategic collaboration, Safari Express Cargo Ltd. aims to avail the comprehensive Octogen’s package, a cutting-edge cargo management system designed to optimize operations and provide a seamless experience for its customers. As per the recent agreement, Cargo Flash will deliver the Octogen’s CMS broadly classified into the Reservation, Operation and alongside some significant add-ons. The Package includes Customer Management, Cargo booking & operation, Rating Management, Schedule Management, Capacity Management, Stock Management, EDI and Tracking. The recently introduced “Octogen” is a modular-based Cargo Management System catering to the entire Air Cargo domain, globally, especially the Airlines. Octogen allows the customer to choose from the list of modules that are required as per their business needs and pay only for the processes, which they pick for implementation. Through Octogen, Cargo Flash will allow Safari Express Cargo Ltd. to scale up its cargo sales & operation whilst enlarging its network furthermore. “We are excited about our collaboration with Cargo Flash Infotech,” says Moses Nzomo, Account Manager Safari Express Cargo Ltd. By adopting the Octogen’s advanced tools and modules, we are committed to elevating our cargo management services to new heights. This partnership aligns with our vision of staying at the forefront of innovation and providing our customers with a seamless cargo experience.” Adding to this motivation, Poonam Faridi, Business Head -Octogen says, “We are proud to support Safari Express Cargo Ltd. in their mission to enhance cargo management. With our state-of-the-art Octogen’s CMS package, Safari Express Cargo Ltd. will be empowered to optimize its cargo operations, boost revenue, and strengthen its position in the regional airline industry.” The partnership with Cargo Flash Infotech comes at a time when Safari Express is experiencing a surge in cargo demand and aiming to expand its cargo division’s capabilities significantly. By integrating the Octogen solutions, Safari Express seeks to achieve unmatched operational efficiency, bolstered customer satisfaction, and seamless cargo handling across its network.

United Kingdom, 6th Nov 2023: Virgin Atlantic (Virgin), the British airline, received approval by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to use 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for the first ever long-haul test flight across the Atlantic Ocean from London Heathrow to New York JFK on November 28, 2023. We are of the opinion that this long-haul transatlantic flight would represent an important milestone toward the ultimate long-term goal of SAF transition at scale, providing a high-profile demonstration of the viability of the technology. “Despite this positive development, broad 100% SAF usage at scale will take years as significant hurdles remain.” said Rohit Kumar, Assistant Vice President, Diversified Industries. “Technology questions regarding whether modifications to current SAF properties and/or existing aircraft will be required remain unanswered at this stage. In addition, higher cost of the fuel and production bottlenecks are also material challenges”. We believe SAF will play an important role in the airline sector’s strategy to achieve its long-term decarbonization targets and credit implication for airlines will depend on the impact from the higher cost of SAFs on air travel demand and airlines’ margins.

Mumbai, 30 October 2023: Vistara has announced starting of daily, non-stop flights between Delhi and Hong Kong. The inaugural flight, operated on Vistara’s A321neo aircraft, commenced from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi at 21:05 Hours (IST) on 29 October 2023 and arrived at Hong Kong International Airport at 05:55 Hours (HKT) today. Vistara’s A321neo is distinguished for its exceptional features, including comfortable three-class seating with full-flat beds in Business Class, contemporary interiors, in-flight wireless connectivity, and a state-of-the-art entertainment system with Live TV, among others. Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said, “The launch of direct connectivity to Hong Kong is in line with our strategy of steadily growing our international network. Hong Kong being amongst the world’s top commercial hubs, attracts a lot of business, MICE and VFR travel from India, besides being a popular leisure destination. We are delighted to offer the option of flying India’s finest airline to customers travelling on this route and we are confident that they will appreciate our world-class product and services.”

New York, 24th October, 2023: Sterling, a Kuehne+Nagel company, has launched a global Aerospace Service designed to expedite urgently needed aircraft parts from one of the largest Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) based in Seattle, Washington.This high-level service will be operating 24/7 from a Logistics Service Hub built in Seattle, staffed with Sterling drivers and a new fleet of vehicles. The Aviation Industry operates within a high-paced environment and requires expedited access to aircraft components, a crucial necessity for sustaining the operational integrity of commercial airline fleets. For delivering the time-critical aerospace solutions, Sterling’s new shuttle service will provide a secure and expeditious solution that will complete with a comprehensive chain of custody protocols to guarantee the integrity of every shipment. Sterling’s new Seattle Logistics Service Hub is overseen by aerospace logistics professionals, featuring a specialized team of drivers and a dedicated fleet of vehicles. This configuration focuses on the initial stages of transportation, effectively mitigating associated risks during at the onset of the shipment. Aircraft parts from the OEM will be picked up immediately after a client’s request, providing the fastest way to retrieve and deliver needed parts to airline operators all over the world. It will help minimize prolonged maintenance periods, and the associated costs incurred while awaiting the delivery of essential components when an aircraft is grounded. “We developed this new service based upon the voice of our customers—they told us what they needed and we’ve delivered. Sterling is committed to meeting their needs with fast and dedicated first mile support,” says Robert Broderick, EVP Sterling.

Gurugram, 23 October 2023:Air India has launched a non-stop service between Bengaluru and Singapore from 22nd October 2023. The new service will cater to the need of a convenient direct connection between the two cities. AI392 will depart Bengaluru at 2230 hrs to reach Singapore at 0540 hrs the next morning. The return flight AI393 will take off from Singapore at 0640 hrs to land in Bengaluru at 0835 hrs (All Local Time). The flight, operated with an Airbus A321 aircraft, will have a two-class configuration of 170 Economy and 12 Business Class seats and operate four days a week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The new connection will lend a boost to tourism and trade in the two cities and help the leisure travellers, students, and business community. Air India has also enhanced the frequency from Mumbai to Singapore from seven flights a week to 13 flights a week from 22nd October 2023. With the increased frequency and commencement of service from Bengaluru, Air India is currently operating a total of 38 non-stop flights to Singapore per week from Delhi (14 flights), Mumbai (13 flights), Chennai (7 flights) and Bengaluru (4 flights) connecting the Merlion City.

Mumbai, 13 October 2023: Vistara has announced starting of daily non-stop flights between Delhi and Bali, from 1st December 2023 onwards. This makes Vistara the only airline offering direct connectivity between the two cities currently. Vistara will be deploying its A321LR aircraft, with a three-class configuration, giving its customers the option to fly in Business, Premium Economy, or Economy cabins when travelling on the route. Bookings for the flights are being progressively opened on all channels.Bali has become an increasingly sought-after holiday destination for Indians due to its accessibility, proximity, and hassle-free visa on arrival facility. Commenting on the introduction of the new destination, Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara said, “India is the second-largest source of foreign tourists to Bali, and with hassle-free visa-on-arrival , Bali remains one of the preferred holiday destinations for Indians, besides being popular for MICE traffic. Additionally, as the second largest trading destination for India in the ASEAN region, Indonesia exhibits great potential for business travel as well. We are delighted to be the only airline offering direct connectivity between Dehi and Bali.”

Delhi, 17th October 2023: Air India has appointed Asian Aviation as its General Sales Agent (GSA) in Greece. It will provide a full range of sales and ticketing services to help widen Air India’s presence in Greece, while supporting the airline’s continuing growth and expansion in Europe. The partnership will help travellers in Greece to have convenient access to Air India’s international network via key transit points in Europe and the Middle East, facilitating smooth connections between flights operated by Air India’s partner airlines and Air India’s non-stop flights to India and beyond. Air India currently operates non-stop flights from nine points in seven countries in Europe, namely Amsterdam, Birmingham, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Milan, Paris, and Vienna to major Indian cities, Delhi and Mumbai. Air India’s current route network enables travellers from Europe to take onward connections from Delhi and Mumbai to cities across India as well as to Nepal, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia. Asian Aviation has significant presence in the Greek aviation landscape as the GSA of many leading airlines.