Category Archives: Aviation

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.

Air India’s booth will feature Business Class and Premium Economy seats of its A320 aircraft Visitors can get a glimpse of Air India’s brand new A350 product at the Virtual Reality (VR) zone Air India, India’s leading global airline, is set to showcase its premium cabin product and in-flight offerings at the upcoming Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) 2025, Asia’s premier and most influential travel trade show, scheduled to take place from 30 January to 1 February 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre, BKC, Mumbai. Taking inspiration from Air India’s signature design philosophy, the exhibition booth has been conceptualised with ‘The Vista’ as an integral part of its structure, blending aesthetics with immersive digital experiences. The pavilion will showcase various aspects of Air India’s transformation journey, captivating audiences with a live demonstration of Business Class and Premium Economy seats that are today available on Air India’s newly retrofitted A320 family aircraft. These aircraft come with subtle cabin mood lighting, spacious legroom and wider pitch, and modern features, like portable electronic device (PED) holders and USB ports to charge mobile phones, laptops and other gadgets, among others. Visitors will be able to experience the seats in real-time while also getting a glimpse of Air India’s brand new A350 product at the Virtual Reality (VR) experience zone. In addition, Air India will also display a selection of in-flight meals to showcase its refreshed menus and enhanced dining experience onboard. “OTM 2025 presents a significant platform for Air India to engage and deepen ties with more than 40,000 key trade visitors from across the globe while highlighting the milestones of our transformation journey. With the Air India pavilion featuring unique activations and immersive …

Emirates’ newest Airbus A350 aircraft commenced its India operations on the occasion of India’s 76th Republic Day. The first Emirates A350 touched down at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. The airline’s newest aircraft, featuring several industry-first technologies, will operate daily on Mumbai and Ahmedabad routes. Pilots waved Indian and UAE flags as the aircraft prepared for its inaugural flight from Dubai to Mumbai.

KR Naidu, Aviation Minister, GoI, said, “To transform the nation’s aviation landscape, India plans to build 50 new airports over the next five years and establish Delhi as a global aviation hub within two years. Speaking at the WEF 2025, he outlined the government’s strategy to meet the surging demand for air travel and enhance India’s position on the global aviation stage.”

Achieving a 16% increase in international traffic and an 18% growth in transit guests Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has concluded 2024 with remarkable growth in its international operations, as highlighted in its latest performance report. The airline transported 20 million international guests on scheduled and additional flights, representing a 16 per cent increase compared to 2023. Transit guest numbers also surpassed 9.3 million, an impressive annual growth of 18 per cent. These milestones underscore Saudia’s unwavering commitment to connecting the world to the Kingdom while contributing to Saudi Vision 2030’s goals in tourism, entertainment, sports, and Hajj and Umrah. In total, Saudia carried 35 million guests throughout 2024, reflecting a 15 per cent year-on-year increase. The airline operated 193,000 scheduled and additional flights, a 10 per cent growth compared to the previous year. Additionally, Saudia achieved an 8.5 per cent increase in flight hours, totalling over 581,000 hours, while maintaining an on-time performance rate of 89.1 per cent, a 2.7 per cent improvement. Guest satisfaction also saw a notable rise, with the Net Promoter Score (NPS) reaching 32.7, a 4.5 per cent increase, indicating enhanced satisfaction and an improved likelihood of recommending Saudia to others. His Excellency Eng. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General, Saudia Group, said, “Operating in the competitive aviation industry demands a constantly evolving strategy. Saudia is committed to achieving sustainable operational excellence while adhering to the highest international standards. This remarkable growth is a testament to the dedication and hard work of Saudia’s employees and the strategic optimisation of our aircraft fleet to deliver exceptional service. We have also made significant strides in enhancing our services and enriching the overall guest experience.” As part …

Strengthens commitment to the Indian market by upgrading aircraft on the Mumbai-Hanoi route, enhancing capacity and comfort with the most modern A350 and B787 aircraft Vietnam Airlines, the flag carrier of Vietnam, announced the upgrade of its aircraft on the Mumbai to Hanoi route, effective 1 May, 2025. Starting 1 May, the flights will operate four times a week using the state-of-the-art Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 aircraft. Both models are renowned for their advanced technology, spacious design, and superior comfort. This upgrade reflects Vietnam Airlines’ commitment to increasing capacity from Mumbai, strengthening air connectivity between India and Vietnam and ensuring a world-class flying experience for its passengers while delivering an unparalleled travel experience. With a spacious cabin layout that includes economy seats with In-flight entertainment (IFE), offering best-in-class extra legroom and full-flat bed seats in business class, passengers can look forward to a restful journey enhanced by a state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system and gourmet meals options. To specifically cater to Indian travellers, the airline will feature a specially curated Indian menu in addition to other premium amenities. Speaking on the announcement, Nguyen Trung Hieu, Country Manager India, Vietnam Airlines, expressed his enthusiasm, “Following the successful launch of daily A350 flights in Delhi last year, and the overwhelming response from the market, we are thrilled to increase our operations from Mumbai. Upgrading to wide-body operations with our Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 aircraft reflects our unwavering commitment to offering Indian travellers unparalleled comfort and convenience. We look forward to welcoming passengers onboard and providing them with an exceptional journey characterised by renowned Vietnamese hospitality.” Echoing this sentiment, Abhishek Goyal, CEO & Executive Director, Aeroprime Group (India GSA for Vietnam Airlines), …

Southeast Asia has long been a favoured region for Indian travellers due to its connectivity, says Jia-En Poon, Senior Manager, Sales, Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), and this trend continued in 2024. “This past summer, Southeast Asian destinations that were the top choice for Indians included Singapore, Bali, and Bangkok. We have also observed travel demand from India to Koh Samui, Krabi, Penang and Malacca,” he says. In terms of traveller profiles out of India, he has observed mainly leisure travellers, workers, and VFR traffic. “India is an important market for Scoot. It is a country with tremendous growth potential as it rapidly establishes itself as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, fuelled by a burgeoning middle class, rising disposable incomes and the expansion of both domestic and international flights routes. Customer preferences are also continuously evolving, and it is important for us to stay close to the market and understand what customers want from a low-cost carrier,” Poon adds. The increase in the number of airports and low-cost airlines has significantly enhanced connectivity throughout the country and to global destinations, making air travel more accessible. He adds, “By 2025, the aviation industry is expected to be in a state of transformation, driven by technological advancements and significant infrastructure investment. While challenges remain, the overall outlook suggests a resilient industry adapting to new realities and striving for a more sustainable future. With these evolutions in the aviation and travel landscape, we need to continually adapt to ensure that these expectations are met. We aspire to find ways to differentiate ourselves from other low-cost carriers.” The airline currently operates to over 70 destinations across 18 countries and …

Samual Machado, MD, India and South Asia, Sabre Corporation, has said that NDC and airlines will not kill GDS. “With NDC, we all will be able to consume the content in a manner where we can be relevant till 10-30 years from now. It has no objective of killing the GDS,” he said while speaking at the TAR Convention in Vietnam.