Tag Archives: aviation

Kapil Kaul, CEO & Director, CAPA India, speaking at the webinar titled ‘Outlook for Widebody Aircraft in India’ has said that India will need approximately an additional 60 widebody aircraft, targeting a 30% market share. “By FY2032, the long and ultra-long haul market is projected to require the deployment of around 300 widebodies,” he added.

Domestic aviation in India is witnessing an unprecedented growth of 4,71,751 passengers and 6,128 flights  on 21 April, 2024 as compared to 21 April last year, which was 4,28,389 and 5,899, respectively. As more people gain access to air travel, the sector is expected to continue its upward trajectory, revealed DGCA.

Finnair, the national airline of Finland, is pleased to announce the appointment of Anupam Vig as the new General Manager for India, effective January 1, 2024. Anupam Vig is a dynamic professional with over two decades of experience in the airline industry. His expertise lies in developing and implementing innovative sales strategies that drive growth and expand market presence. Throughout his career, Anupam has demonstrated a deep understanding of industry dynamics and consumer behavior, consistently delivering results by identifying business opportunities. His leadership will help further Finnair’s goal of providing top-notch service and connectivity to customers traveling from India to Finland and Nordic destinations. “I am delighted to have Anupam Vig lead our team in India. India continues to be an important market for Finnair,” says Jenni Suomela, Vice President, Global Sales and Channel Management, Finnair. “I am honored and excited to take on the role of General Manager for Finnair in India. Finnair, as a 100-year-old airline, has a rich legacy of providing exceptional service, and I am committed to contributing to its continued success and strengthening Finnair’s position as a preferred choice for travellers across India”, says Anupam Vig. Finnair India’s outgoing General Manager, Sakari Romu, has been instrumental in Finnair’s success in the region. As he takes on the role of General Manager for Japan, Finnair expresses gratitude for his contributions and welcomes Anupam Vig to lead the airline in India.  

Air India partners with Bangalore International Airport (BIAL) to develop Bengaluru as a premier aviation hub for Southern India. The MoU will generate over 1,200 new job opportunities for highly skilled individuals in the state. Bengaluru is highly attractive as a destination market as well as a connecting hub.

Talking about the lack of direct flight connectivity from Kolkata to European countries, Manoj Saraf, Managing Director, Gainwell Travel & Leisure, said, “TAAI and TAFI along with the State Govt are trying to get direct flights into Europe and UK. There is some hope that Air India may start Kolkata-London nonstop flights later this year.”

In the FY 2023-24 so far, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has achieved a capital expenditure of ₹4,778 Crores, leading India’s civil aviation industry towards progress. AAI is earmarked to undertake a capital expenditure of Rs 25,000 crore for the period between 2019-20 to 2024-25.

Kanneganti Sameer, Manager Northern & Eastern India, Singapore Airlines, said, “We operate to 8 different cities, and we will operate to 5 more cities, making Singapore Airlines in 13 cities across India. We offer unparallel connectivity across India to meet the requirements of a lot of corporate partners.”

After launching its maiden overseas services to Doha this month, Akasa Air, CEO, Vinay Dube plans to start flights to Kuwait, Riyadh and Jeddah by the end of October this year. Stressing that Akasa Air is “financially solid,” Dube said the airline aims to be among the world’s top 30 by 2030. In the summer schedule that spans from March 31 to October 26 this year, the airline will increase its weekly domestic departures by 14.30 per cent to 903.

In a significant step, India airlines are bracing up for an increased flight frequency in the upcoming summer schedule, beginning from March 31 by operating 24,275 weekly domestic flights. According to the DGCA, the number of weekly departures is set to rise by 2.30 per cent compared to the ongoing winter schedule, where scheduled carriers are operating 23,732 flights.

Air India Express, a low-cost subsidiary of Air India, will commence flights to Imphal and Kochi from Kolkata on 4 April. The airline hopes to add two international services to Kathmandu and Dhaka from the city the following month. Meanwhile, the introduction of direct flights would boost travel in India.