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Time of India
01-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Achieved a lot, there's evidence things are on right track: AI CEO
shed its "taxi" image after the acquisition of UK's JLR when it started to churn out world class cars. Vistara's merger into Air India could prove to be a similar moment for Air India as the Maharaja has crossed more than half way of the transition to become a much better airline that was promised when Tatas took over AI and AI Express in Jan 2022. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a freewheeling interview, AI MD & CEO Campbell Wilson discusses the airline's revamp, the IndiGo wet lease controversy and regulatory challenges. Excerpts: Why has revamping of old planes, especially wide bodies, taken longer than anticipated? We are getting the ordered new planes, including Boeing 737 MAX for AI Express and will get a B787 & Airbus A350 for AI this fiscal. So, they are coming. But they are later than we had originally contracted to receive them for reasons Boeing and Airbus can tell you. Depending on the 6 to 12 months (delay), this is a little bit frustrating for all involved, including the original equipment manufacturer. But it's an industry issue. The other thing that has caused challenge to the original timelines is the certification, production and installation of business class seats, in particular on the legacy aircraft. So, the refit programmes, which we had hoped to have largely completed by now on the wide body fleet, are still underway. Why does on time performance (OTP), again particularly for long hauls on wide bodies, remain a challenge? OTP of international flights on wide body fleets is improving significantly. It's not where we want it to be. There are a few reasons for that. The aircraft were terribly neglected, not well maintained and have old components. They hadn't kept paced with the advances in technology. All of that needed to be replaced and upgraded. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It is taking time, particularly because of supply chain constraints. But technical despatch reliability of aircraft has gone materially up. Has it reached the global average? In some cases, yes. But in most cases, no, because there is still more work to do. There were several other issues, which are being taken care of, including AI not recruiting people for 20 years before privatisation. The staff not being exposed to contemporary best practices. People had been promoted because of tenure, not talent. That had needed to be changed. That takes time. Are you satisfied with pace of change at AI Group? We've completed the merger of four airlines. We finished the year with an OTP that was higher than Vistara. The financial trajectory, particularly for the full service carrier, is going very well. New Air India is in service to New York and to London with the A350. Passengers are very pleasantly surprised on what we are delivering on that. . We have a training academy now seeing 2,000 people being trained and upgraded today. All of the foundation pieces that are necessary to build the future Air India, are either in place or coming up. We've achieved a lot and there's clear evidence that things are on the right track. Are you having a relook at your tie-up with Turkish Technic, following the country's role during Operation Sindoor? We are reviewing our agreement with Turkish Technic where we send some of our wide bodies for checks. It takes some time to adjust when the situation changes. But we are aware of the national sentiment and what people expect us to do. We will look to recalibrate where we send our aircraft. We are looking at options to send our planes for maintenance repair and overhaul. IndiGo is wet leasing planes to launch long hauls. What do you feel about wet lease policy? There's a place for wet lease for short-term capacity augmentation. (However) it can be abused in terms of duration. It can be abused in terms of circumventing air traffic rights between countries. Ultimately, it's something that regulator needs to have a view on.
The Hindu
31-05-2025
- The Hindu
Small IndiGo flights to now depart from Chennai airport's Terminal 4
If one is to fly by IndiGo to places such as Salem and Vijayawada from Chennai on Sunday, they will have to depart from Domestic Terminal 4 (T4). But when their flight from these cities lands in Chennai, they will disembark at Domestic Terminal 1 (T1). According to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), for nearly two months from June 1, the departure operations of ATR flights (small aircraft with 70-80 passenger capacity) of IndiGo (flight numbers 7000-7999) will be shifted to T4. This means, passengers flying to destinations such as Salem, Thoothukudi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Madurai, Tiruchi, Mysuru, Kadapa, Kurnool, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, and Kannur via IndiGo's ATR flights must board at T4. Arrivals still at T1 But passengers who arrive in these flights will still disembark at T1. When asked about the reason for the new arrangements, which would likely confuse flyers, officials said they had been made for the benefit of transit passengers. 'There are a significant number of passengers who arrive on these ATR flights and will have connecting flights by IndiGo to cities such as Delhi or Mumbai. For these, they will have to come to T1. IndiGo flies larger aircraft such as Code C, which are operated from T1, to these cities. To make it easy for such passengers, we have planned departures and arrivals at different terminals. As soon as the passengers arrive, they can complete the necessary security formalities and get ready for their next flight,' an official said. So far, at Chennai airport, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have been handling all departures and arrivals at T1, whereas Air India and Air India Express flights are being handled at T4. The recent changes are also to facilitate the strengthening of taxiway H. Following the upgrade, the taxiway will be able to handle Code E flights (wide-body flights such as B787, with huge passenger capacity). 'Since we are closing four bays at T1, some of the Code C flights (such as A320) will have remote boarding, with passengers needing to take a shuttle bus. This could cause congestion at the bus lounge. So, we decided to transfer the ATR flights of IndiGo to T4 temporarily,' the official added. Officials said that on Saturday, they would put up signage from the entry point all the way to T4. 'Passengers who are flying to these smaller airports must check their ticket and come to T4. We have been posting about this almost every day on social media. The airline has been asked to communicate the changes with the passengers,' he added.
New Straits Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
MAG plans major widebody fleet revamp across three campaigns
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) is preparing to roll out three major widebody aircraft campaigns as the group charts its next phase of twin-aisle fleet growth. MAG group managing director, Datuk Captain Izham Ismail said the first campaign involves finalising options for the 20 Airbus A330neo aircraft, powered by new generation engines, which the group is currently evaluating. The group signed a deal with Airbus in August 2022 to purchase 20 A330neo, with options for another 20. MAG has received three of the 20 A330neos and is currently operating the aeroplanes to destinations such as Melbourne, Auckland and Bali. The group is expecting to receive another seven A330neos this year. The second campaign will see the group evaluating new long-range widebody aircraft such as the A350, Boeing B787 Dreamliner and B777-9. Izham said MAG is open to various aircraft types but is mindful of delivery slot availability for popular models such as the A350 and B787. "But it's tough because from 2031 onwards the slot availability is limited for the B787 and the A350. We have to look into the context of the slot as well." "If to secure an earlier slot is tough, and the B777-9 is a 400-seater aircraft, it is still doable to us if we spec it properly with maybe a three-class cabin. It is probably workable," Izham told Business Times in an interview recently. MAG group chief strategy and transformation officer Bryan Foong said eventually the group plans to grow its A350 fleet from seven to 16. The third campaign involves renewing the cargo fleet operated by MAG's freighter arm, MASKargo. Izham said the group is exploring whether to convert its A330ceo passenger aircraft, fitted with current-generation engines, into freighters or to acquire brand-new cargo aircraft. "The current cargo fleet has aged considerably, 12-15 years. So, it's either new (freighter aircraft) or converting," he said. MAG is expected to issue a request for proposal (RFP) for its long-range widebody campaign in the third or fourth quarter this year. Izham said MAG's long-term planning goes well beyond the next decade. "What we are doing today is not for tomorrow. We are looking at 2043, that far ahead. Buying an airplane is not like buying a car. "It is a huge capital expenditure, a huge investment, and the airplane can only be delivered starting from four to five years down the road." As MAG looks to expand its footprint in the Asia Pacific region, the group is also planning for a larger widebody presence in response to slot constraints at major airports in the region. Bryan said airlines are facing constraints in terms of adding more flight frequencies, particularly in ASEAN capital cities due to the increasing congestion in the major airports. "Today, we have more B737 narrowbody (aircraft), but eventually by 2035, we would have more widebody (aircraft) because we need to grow in the Asia Pacific region. Destinations such as ASEAN capitals are congested and will be very congested. "So, because of that, we have no choice but to put in larger airplanes because we cannot add more frequency. This means that we need to grow our widebody fleet," he added. Bryan also said that through the next 10 years, MAG will be transitioning its current narrowbody and widebody fleet of B737-NGs (new generation), A330ceos and A350s to the B737 MAX 8, A330neo and replacement for its current A350s in early 2030s.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New Boeing 787 Fault Leaves Unsuspecting Pilots Disconnected From Air Traffic Control
The Federal Aviation Administration's recent surge in controller applicants should tell anyone how vital air traffic control is needed to safely navigate a 250-ton plane from airport to airport. The federal agency warned airlines in late February that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner had a severe fault that caused very high frequency radio channels to transfer between active and standby windows of the plane's tuning control panel, which could lead to flight crew missing communications. Boeing released a software update. However, Qatar Airways reported that the patch doesn't fix the issue. While the unintended transfers can be corrected by attentive pilots, the proposed airworthiness directive from the FAA doesn't downplay the potential risks if the issue isn't fixed. Pilots could miss instructions to maintain safe separation from other aircraft, avoid mid-air collisions and prevent runway incursions. The agency is taking comments concerning the directive until April 14 and has already received a worrying statement from Qatar Airways: "However, even if all QTR B787 airplanes are post SB B787-81205-SB230051-00, Qatar Airways flight crew are still reporting similar issues from post-mod airplanes. QTR already reported the events to Boeing / Collins Aerospace for further investigation and root cause determination. Boeing / Collins already acknowledged the issue and FTD is updated with the same information." Read more: These Are The Fastest Depreciating Cars, So Buy Them Used And Save Thousands Boeing's quality control issues that plagued the 737 Max also impacted the 787 Dreamliner. In 2023, the FAA stated it received multiple reports of leaky lavatory faucets on the wide-body airliner. The issue might seem minor, but water flowed under the cabin door and into equipment bays. Boeing stated that the leak was caused by a faulty o-ring and was limited to a batch of aircraft. However, the FAA believed the leaks were more widespread and wanted every Dreamliner inspected. Problems for the 787 continued in 2024 as the FAA demanded that every Dreamliner be reinspected after to verify if Boeing employees falsified aircraft records. It was believed that some 787 planes rolled off the assembly line without having their wings inspected. At this point, it wouldn't be surprising if Boeing workers also rolled out a software update that didn't completely resolve the known radio frequency transfer issue. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Bahrain News Gazette
18-02-2025
- Business
- Bahrain News Gazette
Gulf Air Group Reports Strong 2024 Performance Across Subsidiaries
Manama: Bahrain's Gulf Air Group (GFG) reported its 2024 performance, highlighting achievements in passenger traffic, network expansion, and strategic initiatives across its subsidiaries: Gulf Air, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), and Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA). The group's efforts have reinforced Bahrain's aviation sector and contributed to the Kingdom's economic growth. According to Bahrain News Agency, Gulf Air expanded its network by introducing new seasonal and structural routes, resulting in a 5.4% increase in passenger numbers, reaching 6.2 million in 2024 compared to 5.9 million in 2023. The airline added new destinations, including AlUla in KSA, Shanghai and Guangzhou in China, Mykonos/Rhodes in Greece, Geneva in Switzerland, and Munich in Germany, while resuming services to Baghdad and Najaf in Iraq. Gulf Air also increased flight frequencies to key destinations such as Doha, Muscat, Manchester, Milan, Rome, and Singapore. The fleet was strengthened with two new A321NEO aircraft, bringing the total to 42. Gulf Air signed 23 partnership agreements and expanded its codeshare network to 20 partners, including a new agreement with Azerbaijan Airlines and an expanded partnership with Thai Airways. Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) recorded a 7.3% increase in passenger traffic, welcoming 9.4 million passengers in 2024 compared to 8.7 million in 2023. Cargo handling saw an 11.2% increase, reaching over 390,000 tonnes. Flight movements totaled over 98,000. BAC launched the first phase of the Express Cargo Village, enhancing cargo handling capabilities. BAC's network grew with the addition of Fly Jinnah, Iraqi Airways, and Ajet. The company received industry recognition with awards, including a 5-Star Skytrax rating for the fourth consecutive year and accolades at the 2024 Aviation Achievement Awards. Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA) achieved significant milestones, including a partnership with Riyadh Air for cabin crew training and ANAC accreditation from Brazil. GAA introduced B737 and B787 Full Flight Simulators and partnered with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for advanced training. The academy earned ISO 9001:2015 certification and an 'Outstanding' rating from Bahrain's Education and Training Quality Authority. GAA also expanded its regional presence with a training agreement with Dammam Airport Company (DACO).
