Air India plans to lease B777s for long-haul flights to North America

Radhika Bansal

08 Aug 2022

Air India is planning to lease six B777 aircraft for the first time in at least 10 years, officials aware of the matter said and added this was being done largely as poor interiors were delaying flights to North America.

ALSO READ - Will bring back 10 grounded wide-body aircraft to service – Air India

An official said flights to the US and Canada, specifically to Vancouver, have been delayed due to faulty seats recently. The airline recently made news for its plans of bringing back grounded widebodies and increasing flights to Vancouver.

Air India plans to lease B777s for long-haul flights to North America

Demand for direct flights to the US and Canada has skyrocketed in recent times, with the COVID pandemic becoming less severe. The leased aircraft will increase the frequency of Air India's existing North American flights and possibly add more destinations.

ALSO READ - Air India to increase its flight frequency between New Delhi and Vancouver

“Taking into account the impact on the airline operations, it has been decided that the airline will lease six B777 to operate its ultra-long-haul flights [lasting over 16 hours),” an airline official said, requesting anonymity. “The [existing] aircraft have no other issues.”

The leased aircraft will increase the frequency of Air India's existing North American flights and possibly add more destinations.

According to Flightradar24, which provides real-time information about aircraft globally, Air India’s Delhi-Vancouver flight was repeatedly delayed including by 11 hours on July 10.

The aircraft will be leased for two years and be used for flight operations within three months. “The aircraft is set to arrive by October and will be operated in addition to the current aircraft...” the official said.

A second official cited the current demand and added the airline plans to either increase the frequency of flights or add destinations. “The six leased aircraft will not replace the previous ones but will be additions to the fleet.”

Air India has a fleet of 141 narrow and wide-body Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

ALSO READ - Air India to add A350 aircraft to its fleet; first aircraft likely by 2023

The airline separately plans to buy around 50 Airbus A350-900 and 100 A321neo aircraft and induct them by the middle of next year. Last month, the airline asked its pilots to prepare for training on the A350-900 aircraft.

ALSO READ - Air India issues tender to sell 3 B777-200LR aircraft

The news of leasing additional 777s for long-haul flights comes even as the airline prepares to sell all three of its Boeing 777-200LR airplanes, which are less fuel efficient than the -300ER variant. Air India has a fleet of 141 narrow and wide-body Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

(With Inputs from Hindustan Times)

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Japan Airlines increases flight frequency between the Bengaluru-Tokyo route

Jinen Gada

08 Aug 2022

Japan Airlines (JAL) said it has increased the flight frequency between Bengaluru and Tokyo from twice to thrice a week. It is the only non-stop air service carrier service connecting the two cities.

JAL operates the route with a Boeing 787-8 aircraft equipped with 30 business class and 156 economy class award-winning seats. With flight schedules leaving Bengaluru after midnight, customers can easily reach Japan the next morning for the full day’s activity.

In addition, it provides ample time for passengers to connect to the 11 destinations where JAL flies directly from Tokyo Narita Airport in North America.

Japan Airlines' increment of the Tokyo-Bengaluru route strongly indicates its commitment to expanding its presence in India. 

To celebrate the progress in the direct flight from Bengaluru to Tokyo (Narita), JAL and Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) organised a lamp-lighting ceremony at the check-in counter for flight JL754 and a gate ceremony before departure on Friday.

"We are very excited to make this progress in serving the community better in Bengaluru with more convenient flights to Japan, and hence also providing greater options to connect to North America. We will continue striving to ensure utmost safety and comfort for our guests travelling between India and Japan, and in doing so, contribute to the robust flow of social and economic values between the two countries."Shinya Naruse, Vice-President & Regional Manager (India), Japan Airlines

JAL, which is a SKYTRAX 5-Star Airline, has also been awarded the highest levels of certifications such as the 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating and the Diamond Certification for Health Safety by APEX (Airline Passenger Experience Association) in recognition of its COVID-19 safety measures. JAL is also one of the only seven airlines to receive APEX’s inaugural World Class 2022 certification.

The Japanese flag carrier operates the only non-stop flight between the two cities.

India’s aviation market is one of the fastest growing markets in the world, because of this international airlines try to find new Indian cities to fly to. While Japan airlines are expanding on its Bengaluru-Tokyo route, it still serves only two destinations in India.

With a commitment to expand its presence in India, it could be looking to land in new cities in the future. Although, it faces tough competition from none other than All Nippon Airways (ANA), which also serves the same two Indian destinations as JAL, but has a higher frequency on these routes, making it challenging for JAL to expand in this route network.

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Will bring back 10 grounded wide-body aircraft to service - Air India

Jinen Gada

08 Aug 2022

Tata-owned Air India will bring back its 10 grounded wide-body aircraft to service by early 2023. The carrier announced on Sunday, August 7 that its wide-body fleet currently stands at 43 aircraft, of which 33 are operational.

The addition of wide-body planes will help Air India expand its fleet on long-haul international routes like India-US and India-Canada as aircraft have a bigger fuel tank.

In a view to expanding its network, Air India has planned to induct wide-body aircraft into its fleet.

Air India further added that it will also run daily flights between Delhi in India and Vancouver in Canada from August 31 onwards. Currently, it operates the Delhi-Vancouver service three times per week.  

ALSO READ - Air India to increase its flight frequency between New Delhi and Vancouver

This enhancement in frequency on the Delhi-Vancouver route caters to growing traffic between India and Canada and has been enabled by the return to service of the wide-body Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft.

The increase of frequency on the Delhi-Vancouver route marks the first step in restoring Air India’s fleet and international network.

 The increase in frequency between the Delhi-Vancouver route is the first step towards restoring Air India's fleet and network.

Following its acquisition by the Tata Group in January this year, Boeing has been working closely with Air India to restore aircraft that had been grounded for prolonged periods due to the Covid-19 pandemic and other reasons.

"The progressive restoration of these aircraft has already allowed Air India to increase schedule resilience and will allow further frequency and network increases over the coming months."Airline said in a statement.

In the last week of July, Wilson had asked the airline's integrated operations control centre (IOCC), which is the "nerve centre" of any carrier, to report directly to him and give recommendations on how to improve the on-time performance.

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Vistara leases B787 Dreamliner to increase international flights operations

Radhika Bansal

08 Aug 2022

Full-service airline Vistara is inducting the third Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner into its fleet. The Tata Sons-Singapore Airlines joint venture plans to use the new aircraft to increase its flight frequency to Frankfurt and Paris from October 30, 2022.

Vistara is looking to operate six weekly flights between Delhi and Frankfurt and five weekly flights between Delhi and Paris from October 30 this year. It has also opened bookings for additional flights.

ALSO READ - Vistara in talks with lessors to fill the long-haul gap in the wake of B787 delays

Earlier in March, Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan told Reuters that the domestic airline was in talks with lessors for long-haul aircraft to bridge the gap left by Boeing 787 deliveries.

Vistara leases B787 Dreamliner to increase international flights operations

ALSO READ - FAA halts B787 deliveries due to structural issues

Vistara had to take the plane on the lease because Boeing had not delivered four more Dreamliner planes to it for two years. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US aviation regulator, wants Boeing to make rectifications in Dreamliner's production line before restarting the deliveries.

In the past week, Boeing has received preliminary clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to resume deliveries after going over a year without any.

ALSO READ - Boeing to resume 787 Dreamliner deliveries

Boeing last delivered a Dreamliner in May 2021 and hopes to restart deliveries this year and clear a backlog of 115 already-built aircraft.

Vistara had to take the plane on the lease because Boeing had not delivered four more Dreamliner planes to it for two years.

Vistara had ordered six Dreamliner planes in 2018 but has received only two from Boeing. The second plane was delivered in August 2020. Since then, it has been waiting for the other Dreamliners to boost its international flight operations.

Dreamliner is a wide-bodied aircraft with a bigger fuel tank that allows it to easily operate on long-haul international routes. Vistara Dreamliners have a business, premium economy and economy cabins.

The third Dreamliner being inducted aircraft will also feature fully-flat business class seats, each with direct aisle access, and a separate premium economy cabin.

Vistara Dreamliners have a business, premium economy and economy cabins.

In a press release, Vistara said it will be increasing its number of flights to Frankfurt in Germany and Paris in France as it "gears up to receive its third Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which has been leased recently".

ALSO READ - Vistara plans to add 8 routes and 14 aircraft in FY23

“Europe has been a key focus market for us since the very beginning, and we are glad that our customers appreciate our offerings on these long-haul routes. We have been wanting to ramp up frequencies on these sectors and we are delighted to be able to finally do that.”Deepak Rajawat, Chief Commercial Officer, Vistara

At the time, Vistara had around 50 aircraft, including two 787-9s received before the delivery suspension and a mix of Airbus and Boeing narrow-body airliners. The plan is to take 20 more aircraft by 2023-end for domestic and close international destinations.

ALSO READ - Vistara plans to expand international operations as air travel demand picks up

Vistara had around 50 aircraft, including two 787-9s received before the delivery suspension and a mix of Airbus and Boeing narrow-body airliners.

Earlier in May this year, Vistara increased its frequencies from Delhi-London and Mumbai-Singapore besides increasing frequencies in its other international and domestic routes.

The seven-year-old company is looking at expanding its global footprint as a “priority” but has not yet made a profit. This is the first Dreamliner aircraft leased by Vistara.

ALSO READ - Vistara CEO on B787 aircraft leasing, airfare hike and fare caps at IATA AGM

The airline's losses narrowed last fiscal year, and Kannan said he had seen a further improvement until February when fuel prices spiked. While demand is growing and airfares are moving higher, it will be difficult to offset higher fuel costs and the burden of a depreciating rupee.

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How satellite technology and optimization of flight operations could be key in decarbonizing air travel

Prashant-prabhakar

08 Aug 2022

As a part of the Paris agreement, countries around the world agreed to pursue efforts to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels, to reach the ambitious goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

How do we get to net zero emissions by 2050?

Climate pledges by governments to date, even if fully achieved, would fall well short of what is required to bring global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to net zero by 2050 and give the world an even chance of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 °Caccording to a new report, Net Zero by 2050: a roadmap for the Global Energy Sector

Representative | Shell Global

With the advent of science and technology, numerous propositions have been put forward to the fore with aviation doing its best to transition from fossil-based fuels to more sustainable options.

That said, a new whitepaper by Inmarsat and award-winning aviation journalist Elan Head highlights that the number of practical, immediately-viable options is limited to only two: either simply reduce flying or optimise the efficiency of flight operations.

It is a fact that the aviation industry is one of the trickiest to decarbonize due to the lack of suitable alternatives for fossil fuels in the market. Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), hydrogen and batteries all hold promise for achieving deeper emission reductions in the long-term, but will not be available at the required scale in the near or medium-term.

Representative | Department of Energy

According to IATA, 1.8 gigatons of carbon will need to be mitigated given the aviation industry’s projected scale in 2050, which requires trillions of dollars in investments across the value chain.

Inmarsat’s latest report - ‘Plotting the route to a greener future, explores the important role that connectivity can play in boosting the efficiency of individual flight operations and the wider air traffic system as a whole.

It also vouches for the fact that airlines can leverage satellite communications to maximise fuel-saving opportunities and cut emissions almost immediately while laying the groundwork for future decarbonisation.

Representative | Inmarsat

The aviation industry has long been focused on sustainability and its commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 should be applauded. There is also a clear understanding that action cannot be limited to the long-term, as advancements in sustainable fuel technologies and avionics will take time to evolve. Therefore, it is vital that the industry explores measures that are readily available today, such as utilising the power of satellite connectivity to optimise flight operations. As a key partner of the aviation industry, Inmarsat is pioneering a range of new innovations that support decarbonisation, including our Iris programme to modernise air traffic management, leading to a range of fuel, CO2 and congestion-saving benefits. This is a prime example of how we can use technology at our disposal today to make a better tomorrowNiels Steenstrup, Deputy President of Inmarsat Aviation, said

Niels Steenstrup | Source

According to the research paper, utilising satellite communication technology for operational and infrastructure gains may seem like small measures, but the need for airlines and the wider industry to commit to such initiatives is integral to meeting the 2050 net zero emissions target. Furthermore, it can be implemented in a much faster timeframe than advancements in airframe and engine technologies.

Representative | ALG Newspaper Shaping Future

Inmarsat’s Iris programme delivers high-bandwidth, cost-effective satellite-based data link communications across Europe. This ground-breaking air traffic management programme, with the European Space Agency (ESA), is a key component of modernising and digitalising the aviation industry.

Powered by SB-S, Inmarsat’s award-winning broadband platform for the cockpit, Iris uses secure IP connectivity to relieve pressure on congested VHF radio links, which are near capacity. This supports the Single European Skies ATM Research (SESAR) master plan for next-generation air traffic management and creates several powerful benefits for airlines and Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) across Europe, such as minimising flight delays, saving fuel and reducing the environmental impact of air travel.

In addition to exploring how creative future innovations such as contrail avoidance and formation flying could also be key to driving aviation’s decarbonisation, the report also features demonstrates that air traffic management modernisation has the potential to influence roughly 10% of European aviation emissions, and how the provision of winds uplink to all flights could result in annual global fuel savings of around 850 million litres and two million tonnes in CO2 emissions.

SOURCE(s)

COVER: SciTechDaily

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FlyBig to stop taking bookings for Gondia services

Radhika Bansal

06 Aug 2022

Gurugram-based Big Charter Private Ltd, which operates regional airline FlyBig from Gondia to three places, will stop bookings from August 21, according to an official. FlyBig operates services from Gondia in Maharashtra to Indore, Hyderabad and Aurangabad.

Ratan Ambhore, Regional Head (Operations) of FlyBig, told PTI that the planes engaged in the services were going for 'C check' and that the services will resume in September or October. 'C check' involves an extensive inspection, repair and maintenance of the aircraft. There were reports that the airline was planning to shut down but Ambhore denied any such plan.

Under the government's regional air connectivity scheme UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik), the services were started from Gondia's Birsi Airport on March 13. According to Ambhore, local officials were not providing the preferred parking slot to FlyBig planes.

ALSO READ - FlyBig Airlines to begin services between Indore-Gondia-Hyderabad from March

Speaking to PTI, Ambhore said that on the first day the Birsi Airport management allowed the FlyBig planes to be parked near the lounge.

"After that despite several requests made by us given the convenience to senior citizens and physically disabled people but the management citing one or the other reason disallowed the planes to be parked near the lounge.Despite all the difficulties, the airline is ready to continue with the operations and would resume the operations after getting back the planes after their 'C check'. The number of planes with the airline was not available."Ratan Ambhore, Regional Head (Operations), FlyBig

Flybig is a regional carrier based in India. The airline commenced operations in December 2020 with the launch of a twice-weekly Delhi-Shillong service. It is promoted by Gurugram-based Big Charter Private Limited. It is focused on connecting tier-2 cities within India.

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