Latest news with #A350
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
IndiGo says Ton Dortmans to support tech entry of A350 planes, help build overall MRO capabilities
Synopsis IndiGo is preparing for the arrival of its A350 aircraft in 2027 by appointing Ton Dortmans to bolster its MRO strategy. With over 400 aircraft and 900 more on order, IndiGo aims to expand its in-house MRO capabilities, including its second hangar in Bengaluru. Dortmans, formerly with KLM, will report to IndiGo's COO and work with SVP Engineering.
Zawya
16 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Air France brings back seasonal direct flights between Cape Town and Paris this summer season
Johannesburg: Air France is delighted to announce the return of its seasonal direct flights between Cape Town and Paris for the 2025/2026 summer season, making it even easier for travellers to explore the best of both worlds. From 15 December 2025 to 12 January 2026, Air France will operate daily nonstop flights between the Cape Town and Paris, just in time for South Africa's summer season and Europe's peak holiday period. The daily service will be operated by the state-of-the-art Airbus A350, offering South African travellers a comfortable and stylish journey with the hallmark French flair Air France is known for. From gourmet meals to Champagne in all classes, passengers can expect an elevated travel experience from take-off to landing. This expanded service not only makes it more convenient for European travellers to reach Cape Town's beaches, winelands and world-class culture, but also gives South Africans more options to connect seamlessly to Europe, the Americas, and beyond via Paris. Air France's daily seasonal service will see flight AF0871 departing Cape Town each morning at 08:50 and landing in Paris at 19:20. The return flight, AF0890, will depart Paris at 18:30 each evening, arriving in Cape Town at 06:45 the following day. "We're thrilled to bring our seasonal Cape Town–Paris flights back and see it upgrade the service to daily flights connecting both cities this summer. This seasonal increase to daily flights between the two cities is a reflection of Air France's strong and growing relationship with South Africa," says Wilson Tauro, Country Manager Southern Africa at Air France-KLM. "Air France is dedicated to making the journey as memorable as the destination – and with French flair, world-class service, and a glass of Champagne on board, we've got that covered." Together with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France-KLM will offer up to 18 weekly flights to Cape Town and a total of 32 flights per week to South Africa, providing over 11,000 seats in each direction every week. This expansion underlines the group's strong commitment to South Africa and its important role in connecting global travellers to this exceptional destination, providing unmatched travel options for business and leisure travellers alike. Bookings are now open on Travellers are encouraged to secure seats early for the peak holiday season. For any media requests, please contact: El Broide, The Platinum Club Email: el@
Travel Daily News
2 days ago
- Business
- Travel Daily News
The Emirates A350 makes a debut in Amman
Emirates A350 begins early Dubai-Amman service, enhancing connectivity with advanced cabin features, premium comfort, and stronger tourism and trade ties. DUBAI / AMMAN – The Emirates A350 has touched down at Queen Alia International Airport, marking the start of its regular service on the second daily flight between Dubai and Amman. Originally scheduled to operate on 1 June, the deployment of the brand-new aircraft has been advanced by 2 weeks. EK 905 departed Dubai at 2210 hrs on 19 May and landed in Amman at 0015 hrs early morning on 20th May. EK 906, took off from Amman at 0205 hrs and reached Dubai at 0605 hrs this morning.* The three-class Emirates A350 features 312 seats, including 32 next-generation Business Class lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 21 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 configuration, and 259 spacious Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 layout. Designed for comfort, the aircraft offers higher ceilings, wider aisles, and a quieter cabin environment. Passengers across all classes enjoy Emirates' latest generation of in-flight entertainment with a cinematic viewing experience, enhanced cabin lighting, faster Wi-Fi, and improved seat ergonomics. The A350's arrival in Amman marks a significant milestone in Emirates' longstanding commitment to Jordan dating back to 1986. It also reflects the airline's ongoing investment in the Jordanian market, strengthening connectivity, tourism, and trade links between Dubai, Amman and beyond. In addition to the A350, Emirates also operates the iconic A380 to Amman on EK903/904. The Emirates A350 currently serves six other short and medium haul destinations including Edinburgh, Kuwait, and Mumbai, and will soon start serving more destinations like Oslo, Istanbul, and Ho Chi Minh City, to name a few. By the end of this year, the airline will serve 17 global cities with the A350. For more information or to book tickets, visit Tickets can also be booked on Emirates App, Emirates Retail stores, Emirates contact centre, or via travel agents. * All times are local
Gulf Business
2 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Business
Emirates soars to further success: CCO Adnan Kazim on its growth and global reach
Image: Emirates/ Ales Photography Gulf Business editor, Neesha Salian, at the bustling Emirates stand, Adnan Kazim, the airline's chief commercial officer, shed light on the airline's multifaceted approach to growth, emphasising network expansion and enhanced customer experiences. 'ATM is a very important annual event for us,' Kazim stated, noting its unique ability to gather over 2,800 participants from across the globe, especially fostering engagement with destinations in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Beyond showcasing cutting-edge products like the A350 aircraft and new seating innovations, Emirates' strategic focus at ATM extended to crucial memorandums of understanding ( The airline's commitment to the cruise sector also featured prominently at ATM. 'Regarding cruises, that's another important component for both us and Dubai,' Kazim affirmed, highlighting Dubai's role as a winter cruise hub. Emirates aims to facilitate the end-to-end journey for cruise passengers, currently collaborating with over 78 cruise lines, a number Kazim says is 'continuously scaling up'. Meanwhile, Emirates has significantly broadened its airline partnerships, now boasting 164 agreements, including rail, helicopter, interline, and codeshare arrangements, providing seamless access to over 1,800 cities. Collaborations with carriers like Kuwait Airways, Philippine Airlines, Air Seychelles, and Condor are instrumental in fortifying its global network and connectivity. Discussing Emirates' recent route launches to Vietnam, Cambodia, and China, Kazim explained the strategic importance of these Asian markets. 'Asia continues to be a major growth driver for us,' he said. 'China is picking up again, Vietnam's economy is booming, and Cambodia is an untapped opportunity — particularly underserved from the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.' He noted that destinations such as Siem Reap and Da Nang are seeing increasing tourism demand, with Emirates extending operations from Bangkok to create convenient side-trip opportunities. Shenzhen, a burgeoning tech hub, aligns perfectly with Dubai's focus on AI and future technologies. 'It made perfect sense to strengthen that connection,' Kazim concluded. Kazim also elaborated on Emirates' substantial investment in its commercial strategy, including the ongoing retrofit programme and the successful launch of Premium Economy. He stated, 'Innovation, service quality, and technology are pillars of our commercial strategy.' This is evident in AI-enabled services and enhanced customer touchpoints, even extending to an expanded retail footprint with 11 new stores. 'We want to stay in front of the customer,' he added. The introduction of Premium Economy in 2022 proved to be a 'game-changer' post-Covid-19, addressing the surge in premium travel demand. 'We're offering nearly one million premium economy seats (annually) now, scaling to two million seats by the end of the year, and four million by next year,' Kazim revealed. He observed that 'premium economy did not cannibalise business class. Instead, economy travellers are opting to upgrade, improving our yield and enhancing customer satisfaction. It provides many business-class features at more affordable prices. Today, Emirates is a market leader in this segment.' Emirates: Strategic moves, big results The carrier's strong performance in 2024-25 underscores these strategic moves. The airline's total passenger and cargo capacity grew 4 per cent to 60 billion ATKMs (available tonne klometres), nearing pre-pandemic levels. Emirates introduced new destinations like Bogotá and Madagascar; restarted flights to Phnom Penh, Lagos, Adelaide, and Edinburgh; and enhanced services to 21 other cities, serving 148 cities in 80 countries by March 31. The first Airbus A350 aircraft joined the fleet this year, bringing added capacity for the airline to serve customer demand with its latest products. Despite ongoing delays in new aircraft deliveries, Emirates expanded its retrofit programme to 219 aircraft with a $5bn investment, ensuring a modern cabin experience. The airline reported a record profit after tax of Dhs19.1bn ($5.2bn), marking its best-ever performance with a 14.9 per cent profit margin, driven by robust travel demand and network strength. Emirates carried 53.7 million passengers, a 3 per cent increase, and maintained a passenger seat factor of 78.9 per cent. Investments continued in customer experiences, including Dhs63m in new and renovated lounges globally and the expansion of its Chauffeur-Drive Service to over 70 cities. Emirates SkyCargo also delivered a strong performance, carrying 2.3 million tonnes of goods, a 7 per cent increase. The cargo division contributed 13 per cent to total revenue, reflecting its ability to meet demand with specialist logistics solutions, leveraging Emirates' global network and Dubai's world-class intermodal capabilities. New initiatives included adding Copenhagen to its freighter network, an MoU with Astral Aviation for African reach, and launching Emirates Delivers in Saudi Arabia. The airline has 13 freighters on order, aiming for a fleet of 21 by December 2026. Staying ahead of the rest The comprehensive overview of Emirates' strategic moves, robust financial performance, and dedicated customer experience enhancements paints a clear picture of an airline firmly on an upward trajectory. From expanding its global footprint with new routes and vital partnerships to investing heavily in its fleet and ground services, Emirates is not merely recovering but forging ahead stronger than ever. Kazim's clear enthusiasm for this path underscores the airline's future-focused vision. As he put it, 'We believe in staying ahead of the curve.' This commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, coupled with strategic market focus, positions Emirates to continue its remarkable growth story, promising even greater connectivity and elevated travel experiences for passengers worldwide.
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Which airline has the biggest or oldest fleet? Here's how Delta, United, American and Southwest compare.
United Airlines With 1,023 planes, United Airlines has the largest fleet in the world, according to data from Ch-aviation. More than half of those are Boeing 737s, which is unsurprising given that United is the planemaker's biggest customer. Unlike its legacy competitors, United shows a clear preference for Boeing planes. Airbus jets make up less than a fifth of its fleet. United's oldest plane that's still flying is a 34-year-old Boeing 767. Registered as N641UA, it was delivered in April 1991. While this is nearly two years younger than the oldest plane operated by a US airline, United has the oldest fleet with an average age of 15.8 years. It also has the highest proportion of wide-body planes at 22% of its fleet, showing how its extensive network offers numerous long-haul flights. Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines has the oldest plane still flying in the US — a Boeing 757 that was delivered just over 35 years ago. It's registered as N649DL and appears to typically operate charter flights. In fact, Delta also owns the next 21 oldest aircraft, which are a mix of 757s and 767s delivered between 1989 and 1991. However, the average age of its fleet is still slightly younger than United's, at 15.2 years. About half its 979 planes were made by Boeing, and half by Airbus, per Ch-aviation data. Boeing jets make up the bulk of its narrow-body aircraft, but if you're flying long-haul with Delta, it's more likely you'll find yourself on an Airbus. In fact, Delta is the only carrier on this list to operate wide-body Airbus planes, namely the A330 and the A350. Tariffs have complicated its orders from the European planemaker. Earlier this month, Airbus sent an A350 from its delivery center in Toulouse, France, to Tokyo, so Delta avoided paying tariffs. A similar tactic was used five years ago, when the World Trade Organisation permitted tariffs on aircraft as high as 15%, as the US and European Union accused one another of unfair subsidies for Airbus and Boeing. American Airlines American Airlines also has a roughly even split between Airbus and Boeing planes. Although the carrier only uses narrow-body Airbus planes, it has both short and long-haul Boeing jets. Still, American uses more narrow-body planes than its competitors, representing 87% of its fleet. Its average jet is also more than a year younger than its two rivals, at 14.1 years old. It has the smallest fleet of the three mainline carriers, totaling 988, per Ch-aviation data. However, when its regional subsidiaries are included, the American Airlines Group carries the most passengers in the world, totaling 226.4 million last year. Southwest Airlines The Dallas-based carrier was the progenitor of the budget airline business model, so its fleet makeup is quite different from that of the mainline carriers. Southwest 's fleet is made up entirely of Boeing 737 jets, numbering 802, according to data from Ch-aviation. So while it has the smallest fleet of the big four, they all have a similar number of narrow-body planes. Budget airlines typically only operate one type of aircraft because it saves on maintenance and training costs. However, its traditional business model has come under threat in recent years. Budget airlines have had to contend with changing consumer habits, increased fuel and labor costs, and domestic overcapacity that has made it harder to fill planes. So, Southwest has announced an array of changes, scrapping signature policies such as " two bags fly free" and bringing in assigned seating.
