Category Archives: Aviation

Sharing his perspective on the India market, John Grant, Chief Analyst, OAG, says that while India has for many years been an emergent market it has also seen a fair degree of boom-and-bust periods as local airlines have struggled to survive in a market where seemingly uniforms and working conditions were more important than fuel. “Today, that has changed and anyone who has travelled recently in India will be impressed with the levels of digital technology and biometrics in place across every major airport. India is no longer an emergent market – it is the market of international focus and the centre for aviation growth in the next decade,” he adds.

Digi Yatra has ambitious plans for 2025. Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO, Digi Yatra Foundation, reveals, “Our partnership with IATA for the IATA One-ID X Digi Yatra for enablement of Digi Yatra for International flow will drive growth in 2025. The platform intends to support all 22 official Indian languages. It also aims to conduct an international pilot project, enabling foreign passengers with e-passports to experience its seamless ecosystem.”

The Airbus A321XLR has proven a popular choice with airlines says Gavin Eccles, Managing Partner, GE Consulting & Advisory. “It can fly up to 10 hours, similar to an A330, the difference being we can fly with such distances with 160 people rather than 360 people. This means that tourist boards can start fishing in markets that they have not been to before because the traditional widebody was either too big for most airports or had too many seats that would mean less yield for the airline, resulting in a reluctance to serve certain destinations. But that will now soon change,” he says.

Signs contract for one Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft Will explore further opportunities with Norse Atlantic Airways for contracting more aircraft IndiGo has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways for damp lease of one Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The aircraft will be arriving in India in the next few weeks and is expected to start operations in March 2025. This partnership underscores IndiGo’s strategic efforts to expand its geographic reach and provide its customers with more options for international travel. The initial term of the agreement is six months, extendable to up to 18 months, subject to regulatory approvals. Both parties remain committed to exploring opportunities to further extend this period, subject to regulatory approvals. IndiGo and Norse will continue exploring opportunities to contract additional aircraft and increase their collaboration further. IndiGo is committed to providing an exceptional travel experience to its customers and expanding its international footprint to cater to the growing demand for international travel to and from India. To support and accelerate its long-haul expansion, IndiGo has placed a firm order for 30 Airbus 350-900 wide-body aircraft with an option for an additional 70 aircraft, with deliveries expected to commence from 2027. Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo, said, “As part of our broader strategy to significantly expand our international network, we are pleased to confirm this damp lease of one Boeing 787-9 aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways. Our vision is to transform into a global player by 2030 while having strong roots and continuous expansion in India, and we are strategically moving ahead in that direction.”  

Informing Rajya Sabha about the progress made in the Nodia Airport, KR Naidu, Minister for Civil Aviation, GoI, said, “Jewar International Airport, poised to become Asia’s largest, will commence regular operations from April. He highlighted the enthusiasm among airlines to operate from the airport, which is expected to boost global connectivity significantly.”

66.2% increase over 2023 driven by strong passenger growth Passenger numbers surpass 4.9 million, load factor at 78.4% Jazeera Airways announced impressive financial results for 2024, reporting a net profit of KD 10.2 million, a significant 66.2 per cent increase compared to the previous year. The airline’s operating revenue rose by 5.3 per cent to KD 208.6 million, while EBIT surged by 46.8 per cent to KD 17.3 million. Passenger numbers continued their upward trend, demonstrating the most active year on record – exceeding 4.9 million—an increase of 5.1 per cent from 2023, supported by a strong summer travel demand. The airline also achieved a load factor of 78.4 per cent, reflecting high seat occupancy. In Q4 2024, group operating revenue climbed 15 per cent to KD 45.1 million, with quarterly losses reduced by 41.1 per cent to KD 4.2 million, compared to KD 7.14 million in Q4 2023. This was mainly driven by improved revenues and measures implemented to increase operating efficiency. Jazeera Airways Board of Directors recommended a dividend distribution of 40 fils per share. Marwan Boodai, Chairman, Jazeera Airways, said, “Jazeera Airways’ strong performance in 2024 reflects our strategic agility, operational excellence, and commitment to our passengers. A significant growth in profit amid industry challenges underscores our resilience and ambition. As we drive forward with digital transformation in 2025, we remain focused on enhancing connectivity and customer experience. We could not have achieved this success without the exceptional support of our shareholders, passengers, dedicated employees, and supportive stakeholders. We are excited for the journey ahead, building on this momentum to deliver even greater value and innovation in the years to come.” 2024 Operational Review The year 2024 …

The much-loved A380, featuring The Residence and award-winning cabins, starts serving the popular Asian destination for the first time The double-decker puts over 700 more seats a week on the popular daily service operated by the national airline of the UAE Etihad Airways’ popular A380 made a stylish debut at Singapore Changi Airport on Sunday, 2 February, marking the first time the airline has flown its Big Bird to Singapore. The milestone further enhances the travel experience between the UAE and the Asian powerhouse. The world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, brings Etihad’s celebrated inflight features to the Singapore route, including The Residence – the world’s only three-room suite in the sky. The upper deck also features The Lobby, an exclusive lounge area for First and Business class guests. Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways, said, “As a vibrant and dynamic city, Singapore is always going to be a key destination in our global network. The decision to deploy our much-loved A380 boosts our travel offering between Abu Dhabi and Singapore and highlights our resolve to go beyond by delivering fantastic travel experiences across Etihad’s growing global network.” “Bringing the A380 to Singapore, along with our broader network expansion plans, including increased frequency on key routes, demonstrates our strong growth momentum in Asia. This added capacity reflects the growing demand we are seeing for travel to and from Singapore.” The UAE and Singapore enjoy robust ties across multiple sectors, including trade, culture, and business, and the route caters to leisure travellers as well as providing strong business connections, particularly in sectors like aviation, energy, and technology. The A380 increases the route’s capacity by 28 per cent, …

The Indian aviation industry is growing in potential, and there is a rising demand for skilled talent to support this exponential growth. Air India recognises this need and is making significant strides by investing in the training and development of aviation professionals across various domains. Redefining aviation training with the Air India Training Academy Sprawled across 600,000 sq. ft, the Air India Training Academy in Gurugram, is South Asia’s largest aviation training institution. The academy is poised to train over 50,000 Air India professionals in the coming years, encompassing a wide spectrum of roles including pilots, cabin crew, engineers, and security personnel. With a strong focus on creating immersive learning experiences, the curriculum seamlessly blends both classroom training and practical application to foster industry-ready aviation professionals. Air India is also in the process of setting up over 20 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) bays within the academy to support the airline’s existing and future Airbus and Boeing fleet and ensure crew readiness ahead of aircraft deliveries. Cultivating a strong talent pool of pilots through the Flying Training Organisation (FTO) Air India is proactively addressing the growing demand for skilled pilots with its upcoming Flying Training Organisation (FTO) in Amravati at Maharashtra Airport Development Company’s airport. With a target to graduate 180 commercial pilots every year, it not only aims to strengthen Air India’s pilot pool but also contribute to India’s overall aviation landscape. This state-of-the-art flying school – which is South Asia’s largest and the first by any Indian airline in the country – boasts of digitally enabled classrooms as well as world-class hostels ensuring a conducive environment for young adults aspiring to pursue a career in aviation. Air India has …

Reacting to the Union Budget, Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo, said, “The Union Budget 2025 has outlined various great initiatives to further develop a future-ready travel ecosystem, with emphasis on people and infrastructure, and aviation as a key enabler. Investment in developing world-class airports, enhancing regional connectivity, capacity upgrades, procedures, regulatory framework and streamlined visa facilities, will all play critical role in bringing this vision of developing India into a global aviation hub to life. By strengthening both domestic and international connectivity, we are fueling economic progress, bridging communities, and reinforcing aviation’s role as a catalyst for national growth and collectively building India as a leading global economic powerhouse.”

Air India announced that it will resume its non-stop services between Delhi and Tel Aviv from 2 March 2025. The flag carrier will operate 5x weekly to Tel Aviv, using its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft that offers 18 flat beds in Business Class and 238 spacious, cushioned seats in Economy Class.