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Farnborough Air Show, England, July 17, 2022: As per the report published in Reuters, at the Farnborough Airshow 2022, Boeing will close the aircraft orders worth over $15 billion from Delta Air Lines and Lufthansa seek for 737 MAX 10 and 777X jetliners. Reuters also mentioned that Boeing would try to make its upper hand in its competition with Airbus as its talk with Delta for 737 Max is closed and official announcement will be made on Day 1 at FAS 22. It is also under talks that Delta can announce deal up to for 100 Boeing 737 MAX 10 Aircrafts alongwith firm order around 12 more Airbus A220s. In addition, Lufthansa is to firm up deal for 10 Boeing freighters. At the FAS 22, it is expected that announcements for EasyJet winning the shareholder approval for a recent deal for 56 Airbus A320neos would be made public while Etihad’s firmed up order for seven A350 freighters will be also made.

(Bengaluru, July 14, 2022) – Following its new international routes connecting key Indian cities to Vietnam, Vietjet now reveals a bigger network growth and implementation plan for the India market. The new flight services are planned to link Bengaluru to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), three of Vietnam’s most well-known business and tourism cities. The new routes are set to operate within the fourth quarter of 2022. The airline also plans to open new direct services to other major Indian cities by the year-end. The announcement comes on the heels of the airline’s recent launch of direct routes connecting New Delhi, Mumbai to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and its soon-to-launch routes linking Mumbai and New Delhi with Phu Quoc islands, Southeast Asia’s favored beach destination in early September. The new direct flights from Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport) will make it easier and more affordable for Indian visitors to travel not only to Vietnam but also connect to other Southeast Asia’s destinations of Bali, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore or further to Northeast Asian cities of Seoul, Busan, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Taipei, etc. Located in the heart of Southeast Asia and home to a rich culture, diverse natural landscapes, delicious cuisine, and friendly local people, Vietnam has been a rising destination in recent years, drawing more and more world travelers, and routinely receiving praise from leading global travel magazines, including its attraction to Indian travelers. Being the country’s capital, Hanoi with over a thousand years of history, is home to enchanting lakes, unique urban areas such as the bustling Old Quarter and an array of fascinating heritage buildings. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s largest economic, financial and tourism hub, is a vibrant destination with incredible restaurants, shopping, nightlife and historical landmarks. Located in central Vietnam, Da Nang has been the world’s famous coastal destination and appealed world tourists in recent years thanks to its iconic landma.rks of Golden Bridge and Dragon Bridge. The city also serves as a gateway to Vietnam’s other tourist attractions, including the ancient town of Hoi An, the former imperial citadel in Hue city, and Quang Binh, home of the spectacular caves. Vietnam has lifted all arrival regulations relating to Covid-19 and travelers can enjoy a complete pre-pandemic fashion arriving in the country. Travelers from India can easily apply for e-visa and enjoy their coming trips to Vietnam.

Gurugram, 13 July 2022: The Jalan Kalrock Consortium (JKC) has strengthened its management team for Jet Airways with the appointments of Srihari Venugopal as Vice President – Network Planning, and Tanay Palshetkar as Assistant Vice President – Pricing and Revenue Management. Srihari is responsible for developing and overseeing Jet Airways’ network strategy through route planning and development. Tanay will work collaboratively across the business to drive revenues and shape Jet Airways’ commercial proposition. They will report to the Chief Executive Officer, Sanjiv Kapoor. Before joining Jet Airways, Srihari served Go First as VP – Network Planning. He started his career in aviation as a revenue management analyst at Air Deccan and subsequently worked in various capacities across the MENA and ASEAN regions in addition to the domestic market. His previous employers include Bengaluru International Airport, SpiceJet, Saudi Arabian carrier Flynas, Air Pegasus, and AirAsia. Tanay also joins Jet Airways from Go First, where he was General Manager – Revenue Management. He started his career with Jet Airways over 22 years ago in the carrier’s reservations team, and then transitioned to take on roles in revenue management, pricing, and similar domains within the commercial functions of various airlines. He was part of Kingfisher Airlines’ start-up team, and later worked with UAE-based RAK Airways and FlyDubai, and AirAsia. Jet Airways, CEO, Sanjiv Kapoor said: “Both, Srihari and Tanay, bring great abilities and the right experience to help us relaunch Jet Airways. We welcome both of them to the Jet Airways family, and we are delighted that our entire senior management team is now almost fully in place, as we get closer to creating history together.” Several senior industry professionals have joined the re-start team of Jet Airways. On 23 May 2022, the Consortium announced the appointments of Prabh Sharan Singh as Chief Digital Officer, HR Jagannath as VP – Engineering, Mark Turner as VP – Inflight Product and Services, and Vishesh Khanna – VP Sales, Distribution, and Customer Engagement. Previously, Sanjiv Kapoor joined as CEO, Vipula Gunatilleka as CFO, Capt. PP Singh as Vice President – Flight Operations and Accountable Manager, Alphonso Dass as Vice President – Airports & Airport Training, Nakul Tuteja as Vice President – Human Resources & Administration, and Ronit Baugh as General Manager & Head of Corporate Communications. Jet Airways recently invited former Jet Airways cabin crew to ‘come back home’ and rejoin the airline. The airline will soon begin recruitment for other operational roles, such as pilots, engineers, technicians, etc. The airline intends to recommence commercial operations in the current quarter ending September 2022.

AW/Feature: On the occasion of “International Cabin Crew Day 2022,” Megha Singhania,Head of Cabin Crew Department with Air Asia has shared an authored article highlighting the role and contribution of cabin crew in successful operation of a flight and factors that makes her job so special and attractive. Working in the Air The Covid-19 pandemic triggered an ironic if not an unusual pattern amongst millennials and the Gen Z crowd. People across the world were quitting jobs by the dozen and were in search of newer spaces where communication, recognition and growth were in sync with their ability to maintain a personal life. Working as part of the Tata Group is nothing short of a privilege and an honor, owing to the brand’s distinction as one of the most employee-friendly conglomerates that evokes a sense of trust, credibility, and integrity worldwide. With the opportunities and work-life balance that the aviation industry brings with it, millennials and Generation Z are leaning towards being a part of the cabin crew. This is because being employed as a cabin crew member requires a collaborative effort where all members are working towards a single solid goal – to enhance guest experience. Each member clearly understands the duties assigned and is trained to assist their fellow crew in activities for a safe flight. This team-player environment enables the workforce of today to look forward to being cabin crew aspirants more than ever. Becoming an AirAsia India cabin crew member extends beyond a service role – the airline has the highest safety rating of 7/7 with a zero-incident report from airlineratings.com. It is a role and lifestyle that is inspirational and coveted across the world, with extensive travel and flying allowances for the crew and immediate family. Millennials and Generation Z want to feel connected to the people they work for. They are willing to stick with a company if they know they can grow, have authentic communication, receive recognition, and are free to be creative and autonomous. Unlike the desk job, being a cabin crew member does not require chasing deadlines to complete a project. Your work is structured as per your flying roster, and you can plan your personal life accordingly. Besides this, you have the most beautiful office at 35000 feet above sea level with an opportunity to work with different people every day. Traveling to beautiful destinations and exploring new cultures and cuisines is a bonus. Challenges Ahead The aviation industry is known to be dynamic. One of the major challenges that millennials will have to face is adapting to the nature of duty that the industry demands. To counter this, airline companies have provided schedules where one does get the sufficient rest needed. Time management and the ability to be agile is therefore a key solution to adapt to timelines not known to industries outside. Being in the best of your health is of paramount importance. This is because every individual takes to the problem of jetlag differently. While some are not affected as much, others require an extended amount of time to recover. As a cabin crew, millennials and Gen Z would encounter this concern and would have to train themselves in addition to the solutions provided by the airline. Patience and passion are the other two important factors that may get challenged from time to time. Flight delays and bad weather are some of the testing times. To be calm and composed in a crisis is a trait of being a cabin crew member. A passionate mindset that “I am not an individual when wearing my uniform but a brand ambassador” surely helps an individual to overcome these challenges and deliver excellent customer service, empathize with guest needs and find ways to go above and beyond to help our guests. Industry Trends 2022 With the recovery of the airline industry in full swing and governments across nations lifting travel restrictions, millennials are flocking towards being a part of the cabin crew journey. While the biggest lesson from the pandemic is that predictions can go wrong, experts have predicted that travel will see an upswing from this year onwards at a gradual pace. By integrating digitalization to minimize the need for physical interactions, airlines are now pushing for a touchless experience. Face to face interactions between airline members and passengers would eventually decrease, thereby improving safety and sanitization. Operations such as automated check-ins, biometric facial recognition, e-boarding information are some of the upcoming trends that people would experience in the coming years. ( Views expressed are personal)  

12th July 2022, Deoghar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various developmental projects worth more than Rs 16,800 crores in Deoghar today. Governor of Jharkhand, Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, State ministers and people’s representatives were among those present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that with the blessings of Baba Baidyanath, projects worth more than Rs 16,000 crore have been inaugurated and the foundation stone has been laid today. These are going to give a huge impetus to Jharkhand’s modern connectivity, energy, health, faith and tourism. The Prime Minister remarked that the country has been working with the thinking of development of the nation by the development of the states since last 8 year. In the last 8 years, in the efforts to connect Jharkhand by highways, railways, airways, waterways, in every way, the same thinking and spirit have been paramount. All these facilities will positively impact the economic development of the state. The Prime Minister said that today, Jharkhand is getting its second airport. This will lead to tremendous ease for devotees of Baba Baidyanath. In the context of making air travel affordable for the common man through the UDAN scheme, the Prime Minister noted that today the benefits of the efforts of the government are visible across the country. About 70 new locations have been added through airports, heliports and water aerodromes in the last 5-6 years under the UDAN scheme. Today, ordinary citizens are getting the facility of air travel on more than 400 new routes. More than 1 crore people have experienced very affordable air travel, many for the first time. The Prime Minister expressed happiness that the flight from Deoghar to Kolkata started today and flights for Ranchi, Delhi and Patna will start soon. Work is on for airports in Bokaro and Dumka, he said. The Prime Minister said along with connectivity, the central government is also focusing on the creation of facilities at important places related to faith and spirituality in the country. Modern facilities have also been expanded in Baba Baidyanath Dham under the PRASAD scheme. When a holistic approach guides the projects, new avenues of income come for various segments of the society and new facilities create new opportunities.

Delhi,7th July, 2022: Akasa Air, India’s newest airline, received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.The grant of the AOC is the final step of a comprehensive and rigorous process laid down by the DGCA and marks the satisfactory completion of all regulatory and compliance requirements for the airline’s operational readiness. Following the government’s initiative to usher in a new era of digitisation, Akasa Air is the first airline whose end-to-end AOC process was conducted using the government’s progressive eGCA digital platform. The process concluded with the airline having successfully conducted a number of proving flights under the supervision of the country’s aviation regulator. Vinay Dube, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Akasa Air said “We are extremely thankful to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA for their constructive guidance, active support and the highest levels of efficiency throughout the AOC process. We now look forward to opening our flights for sale, leading to the start of commercial operations by late July. This will begin our journey towards building India’s greenest, most dependable, and most affordable airline”. “We also want to take this moment to thank and acknowledge the collective contributions of our employees and partners whose commitment, perseverance, optimism, meticulous planning and exemplary teamwork have helped achieve this milestone. This is not just a significant milestone for Akasa Air and Indian aviation, but also a testimony to the story of a vibrant and resilient India”. he added. Akasa Air, whose airline code is QP, received its first 737 MAX on June 21, 2022. Later this month, the airline will commence commercial operations with two aircraft, subsequently adding to its fleet, every month. By the end of the fiscal year 2022-23, the airline will have inducted 18 aircraft and thereafter 12-14 aircraft every 12 months, which will make up its order of 72 delivered over five years.

India, July 7, 2022 – Safran inaugurated three new production sites in India and announced the construction of a major new facility in 2025, bolstering its strategic partnership with the country. Safran has operated in India for 65 years and now counts 10 facilities and 750 employees in the country. These announcements, which represent more than $200 million of investment between 2018 and 2025, clearly reflect the Group’s commitment to long-term development in the country. “With these new sites, we’re opening a new chapter in Safran’s long history with the Indian aerospace and defense industries, and we are reaffirming our commitment to the government’s ‘Make in India’ policy and sovereignty strategy,” said Olivier Andriès, Chief Executive Officer of Safran. “To support the country’s dynamic aviation market, with passenger traffic set to more than double in the next twenty years, we are accelerating our investments and industrial development in India. Through the creation of our largest maintenance and repair center for commercial engines we are also paving the way to expand our MRO activities in India to military engines. With our three new production facilities and our major in-house IT center we will triple the number of employees in India over the next four years, building on the excellent local talent base. ” Two new neighboring plants are being inaugurated on July 7 in Hyderabad, for Safran Aircraft Engines and Safran Electrical & Power. The Safran Aircraft Engines plant, spanning 15,000 square meters (162,000 sq ft), will make rotating parts for the LEAP engine from CFM International. It will provide the additional capacity needed to meet the requirements of a production ramp-up for the best-selling commercial airplane engine of its generation. Eventually employing 275 people, this plant applies Safran’s highest standards in terms of industrial processes, machinery and equipment and sustainability, with one-third of electrical power to be provided by solar panels. During the inauguration, Jean-Paul Alary, Chief Executive Officer of Safran Aircraft Engines, announced the creation of a new maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for CFM LEAP engines, to be built at the industrial Park of GMR. The largest MRO center in the network, it will start operations in 2025 and will eventually offer annual capacity of 250 to 300 engine shop visits. The LEAP and its predecessor, the CFM56, now power over 330 Airbus A320/A320neo and Boeing 737/737 MAX airplanes deployed by airlines in the Indian sub-continent. More than 1,500 LEAP engines are currently on order in the region. “Our new MRO 4.0 center in Hyderabad will strengthen our global network and enable us to meet the needs of our CFM customers against a backdrop of booming air traffic in India and the region,” noted Jean-Paul Alary. “We benefit from the fast growing aviation ecosystem and outstanding competences in the State of Telengana.” Safran Electrical & Power’s plant, located in the same airport zone as the Safran Aircraft Engines plant and sharing all support functions, makes wiring for LEAP engines and the Rafale fighter. Opened in November 2018, the plant has 150 employees today, growing to 200 when it reaches full capacity. The third plant is being inaugurated on July 8, 2022 in Bangalore, for Safran HAL Aircraft Engines, a 50/50 joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. This new site replaces the initial plant that dates from 2005, more than doubling the surface area and featuring state- of-the-art installations. It’s located in a Special Economic Zone near the Bangalore airport. Spanning 11,000 square meters (118,800 sq ft), the plant makes complex piping, mostly for the LEAP engine, and has about 150 employees. During his visit to India, Olivier Andriès announced the creation of Digit, an in-house entity tasked with development of digital systems for Safran. The entity’s two main facilities, in Hyderabad and Mumbai, start operations in the summer of 2022. Digit plans to recruit 1,000 people over the next five years by calling on India’s vast talent pool for the development of digital applications and systems, as well as cybersecurity.

New Delhi, 7th July 2022: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has released the second provisional list of 23 beneficiaries under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for drone and drone components. These include 12 drone manufacturers and 11 drone component manufacturers. The Ministry invited applications from eligible manufacturers on 4th May 2022 and the last date for submission was 20th May 2022.The provisional list of PLI beneficiaries has been prepared on the basis of the unaudited financial results for 2021-22 and other information. The shortlisted beneficiaries have crossed the eligibility criteria related to sales revenue and value addition in FY 2021-22. Click here for MoCA’s public notice: https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/sites/default/files/Second%20provisional%20list%20of%20beneficiaries%20under%20PLI%20Scheme%20for%20drones%20and%20drone%20components.pdf The list of shortlisted drone manufacturers is as follows: Aarav Unmanned Systems, Bengaluru, Karnataka Asteria Aerospace, Bengaluru, Karnataka Dhaksha Unmanned Systems, Chennai, Tamil Nadu EndureAir Systems, Noida, Uttar Pradesh Garuda Aerospace, Chennai, Tamil Nadu Ideaforge Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra vii. IoTechWorld Avigation, Gurugram, Haryana Omnipresent Robot Technologies, Gurugram, Haryana Raphe Mphibr, Noida, Uttar Pradesh Roter Precision Instruments, Roorkee, Uttarakhand Sagar Defence Engineering, Pune, Maharashtra xii. Throttle Aerospace Systems, Bengaluru, Karnataka The list of shortlisted drone component manufacturers is as follows: Absolute Composites, Bengaluru, Karnataka Adani-Elbit Advanced Systems India, Hyderabad, Telangana Adroitec Information Systems, New Delhi Alpha Design Technologies, Bengaluru, Karnataka Dynamake Engineering, Hyderabad, Telangana Imaginarium Rapid, Mumbai, Maharashtra SASMOS HET Technologies, Bengaluru, Karnataka Servocontrols Aerospace India, Belagavi, Karnataka Valdel Advanced Technologies, Bengaluru, Karnataka ZMotion Autonomous Systems, Bengaluru, Karnataka Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies, Chennai, Tamil Nadu The combined annual sales turnover of the afore-mentioned companies has increased from INR 88 crore in FY 2020-21 to INR 319 crore (unaudited) in FY 2021-22. The eligibility criteria for the PLI scheme for drones and drone components includes an annual sales turnover of INR 2 crore for drone companies and INR 50 lacs for drone components manufacturers; and value addition of over 40% of sales turnover. The PLI scheme for drones and drone components was notified on 30th September 2021. Under the scheme, a total incentive of INR 120 crore is spread over three financial year which is nearly double the combined turnover of all domestic drone manufacturers in FY 2020-21. The PLI rate is 20% of the value addition which is one of the highest among other PLI scheme. A unique feature of drone PLI scheme is that the manufacturers who fail to meet the value addition threshold in 2021-22 will be allowed to claim the lost incentive in the subsequent year if they make up the shortfall in 2022-23. Click here for the PLI scheme for drones and drone components: https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2021/230076.pdf Apart from the PLI Scheme, Government of India has carried series of reforms to make India a global drone hub by 2030. These include notification of the liberalised Drone Rules, 2021; publishing of Drone Airspace Map 2021 which opens nearly 90% of Indian airspace as a green zone upto 400 feet, UAS Traffic Management (UTM) policy framework 2021; Drone Certification Scheme 2022 which makes it easier for drone manufacturers to obtain a type certificate; Drone Import Policy, 2022 which bans import of foreign-made drones; and the Drone (Amendment) Rules, 2022 which abolishes the requirement of a drone pilot licence for drone operations.

New Delhi, 6th July 2022: Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry(FICCI) organised a stakeholder workshop for evaluation of Krishi UDAN 2.0. The conference brought together experts from Air Cargo Sector for highlighting the benefits of Krishi UDAN and how domestic air cargo players can work in convergence and creating a seamless transaction across the value chain. The workshop was chaired by Rajiv Bansal, Secretary,MoCA, and was moderated by Usha Padhee, Joint Secretary-MoCA. The Workshop was attended by Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Advisor, MoCA, Shri Saurabh Endley, Joint Secretary- MoD North-eastern Region,Ashutosh Dey, Joint Secretary, DONER, Ajay Kumar, CEO, AAICLAS, senior dignitaries from MoCA, AAICLAS, FICCI, MoA&FW, Department of Fisheries, 26 Airport Directors (APDs) across the country and various other stakeholders of Indian Air Cargo Sector. Highlighting the importance of workshop on Krishi UDAN, Shri Rajiv Bansal, Secretary, MoCA said, “Such workshop helps in having a meaningful discussion and act a brainstorming session for new ideas. During the 2 years of Covid-19 Pandemic, there was a great realisation that the cargo can play a major role in sustainable options of Airlines. Our country is a vast country which has diversified agriculture produce, and it is in the interest of the airline and the airport to facilitate the transportation of agricultural products which will lead in creating a sufficient demand for local producers in domestic as well as international market. We (MoCA) are willing to work on some pilot projects with the help of agricultural department and state governments regarding a transport subsidy scheme which will help in faster transportation.” Usha Padhee, Joint Secretary, MoCA, made a presentation on “Krishi UDAN 2.0 Evaluation”, highlighting the achievements, scope, impact on Agriculture industry and future of Krishi UDAN. Performance of the scheme with respect to various airports was also deliberated. It was also informed that 5 new airports namely Belagavi, Jharsuguda, Jabalpur, Darbhanga and Bhopal are to add to the list of existing 53 list of Krishi UDAN airports. With this, 58 airports would be actively participating in Krishi UDAN. Another presentation on domestic and international cargo in India was made by Ajay Kumar, CEO-AAICLAS, which highlighted the growth and impact of AAICLAS on the Agricultural industry and how AAICLAS is helping in Krishi UDAN. A Q&A session was also held after the presentations where various industry players give their suggestions on how to make transportation of agricultural and perishable products better and timely. Krishi UDAN Scheme 1.0 was launched in August 2020, on international and national routes to assist farmers in transporting agricultural products so that it improves their value realization. Improving the scheme further, Krishi UDAN 2.0 which was announced on 27 September 2021 will focus on transporting perishable food products from the hilly areas, north-eastern states, and tribal areas. Source: PIB

New Delhi, 01st July 2022: Airports Authority of India (AAI) signed an Operation & Management agreement for operationalization of five airports owned by the Government of Uttar Pradesh for a period of 30 years.These five airports are Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Muirpur & Shravasti. The agreement was signed by N V Subbarayudu, ED (SIU) on behalf of AAI and Kumar Harsh, Special Secretary, Civil Aviation Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh on behalf of the State Government in presence of Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister, Government of Uttar Pradesh. The MoU was exchanged by Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman AAI and SP Goyal Additional Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh. DS Mishra, Chief Secretary of UP, AK Pathak, Member Planning (AAI) were also present. As per the agreement, AAI will operate and manage the airport and provide all necessary services. Communication Navigation Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM)services will also be provided by AAI, for which State Government will enter into a separate agreement. Further, Reserved Services will be provided by respective GoI for which GoUP shall enter separate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), GoI. AAI will also be responsible for obtaining and maintaining of aerodrome license for these five airports. As per the agreement, Government of UP will complete the initial capital works for making airports ready for commercial operation and hand over all moveable and immovable assets along with relevant approvals, document to AAI for operation & management.Government of Uttar Pradesh will provide dedicated infrastructure for utilities like water, electricity and drainage connection etc. at the airport (to & within). This is the first time AAI is entering into an O&M Agreement with the State Government for Operationalization of State Government owned airports. AAI being the largest airport operator and sole air navigation service provider is committed towards providing air connectivity across the country.