Airbus enlists the help of Delta in efforts to develop hydrogen-powered aircraft

Carrier Delta Air Lines will help planemaker Airbus in its effort to develop a hydrogen-powered passenger airplane, the companies said on Thursday, March 17.

Delta is the first U.S.-based airline the European planemaker is partnering with for hydrogen aircraft. Atlanta-based Delta said the partnership does not entail any financial investment on its part.

Airbus has plans to produce a small "ZEROe" passenger aircraft powered by hydrogen to enter service in 2035, and wants to get feedback from customers while the new aircraft is being developed, Amanda Simpson, vice president for research and technology at Airbus, said in an interview.

Delta Air Lines will help planemaker Airbus in its effort to develop a hydrogen-powered aircraft

"We're in...the pre-product development phase, where we're trying to understand clearly what is the realm of the possible - what is going to work," Simpson told Reuters.

Last month, Airbus said it would build a demonstrator to test propulsion technology for hydrogen airplanes in co-operation with French-U.S. engine maker CFM International.

Amelia DeLuca, vice president of Sustainability at Delta, said the collaboration would focus on understanding the requirements for the new plane's deployment including the production of green hydrogen in the United States and its accessibility at the country's airports.

Delta is one of the biggest customers of Airbus. As of end-December, it had 368 Airbus planes in its fleet

The carrier said the partnership would also advocate for a decarbonized future in aviation, including hydrogen pathways, with key stakeholders.

U.S. planemaker Boeing Co has been more sceptical about commercial prospects for hydrogen-powered air transport by 2035, putting the greater public focus on sustainable aviation fuels.

Delta is one of the biggest customers of Airbus. As of end-December, it had 368 Airbus planes in its fleet. The company has purchase commitments for another 245 Airbus planes and has options for additional 120 aircraft.

(With Inputs from Reuters)

The Jalan-Kalrock Consortium, new promoters of the beleaguered Jet Airways, said on Thursday, March 17 that the scheduled services of the airline will restart soon. The consortium, in a statement, stated that the "restart activities are progressing well". 

The consortium, however, added that the extension of the timeline (to revive the airline) has "nothing to do where aircraft are registered and deregistered of the cost of leasing." 

"We are working closely with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on the approval process and timelines for proving flight, following which the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of Jet Airways will be re-validated. The resumption of scheduled services will follow soon thereafter.Restarting an airline is a complex exercise that must be done meticulously, in coordination with the Regulatory Authorities and we are well underway with the process. The timeline reflects the typical duration of an AOC process however we fully expect to have the proving flight and AOC well in advance of the filed timelines."Jet Airways

It further stated that there is no regulatory requirement of taking an aircraft outside India for re-registration.  

The consortium added that it is working with multiple aircraft lessors as well as aircraft manufacturers to source aircraft that will be inducted into the Jet Airways' fleet over the next three to five years. 

Jalan-Kalrock consortium committed to bringing Jet Airways back to life

According to media reports, the Jalan-Kalrock consortium has sought two more months to conclude the regulatory requirements to revive Jet Airways' air operator certificate and has submitted an application to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in this regard.  

The deadline to revive the airline ends on March 22. Jet Airways suspended its operations in April 2019 due to a cash crunch.

ALSO READ - Sanjiv Kapoor named as the CEO of Jet Airways

Earlier this month, Going ahead with their plans of restarting operations by summer months, Jet Airways has chosen Sanjiv Kapoor, who has headed revenue and strategy departments at SpiceJet and Vistara, to lead the new Jet Airways.

Jet Airways suspended its operations in April 2019 due to a cash crunch.

The Jalan Kalrock Consortium and the Management Team is working with multiple aircraft lessors as well as aircraft manufacturers to source aircraft that will be inducted into the Jet Airways fleet over the next 3-5 years.

ALSO READ - Vipula Gunatilleka, former CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines, appointed as Jet Airways’ CFO

In February, the Jalan-Kalrock consortium-owned airline announced the appointment of former Sri Lankan Airlines CEO Vipula Gunatilleka as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Jet's management team has been holding meetings with key airports to discuss slot allotments

The process of reviving Jet Airways has been going on for a while now. The airline went bust in April 2019 in a rather dramatic way. As attempts to bring the downed carrier back to life gained steam, Jet Airways' Committee of Creditors, led by the State Bank of India, declared the Jalan-Kalrock consortium the airline's new owners in October 2020.

In June 2021, the NCLT gave the nod to Jet's revival plan, and since then, its promoters have been working to put the broken pieces together to resurrect the airline. Jet's management team has been holding meetings with key airports to discuss slot allotments and deliberating on matters such as where its new headquarters will be.

Airlines must consider giving male employees paternity leave so that they, too, can share the responsibility of bringing up children, Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Wednesday, March 16. He also batted for increasing the share of women pilots in the country from 15% to 50%.

India passed the Maternity (Amendment) Bill in 2017 that increased the right to paid maternity leave for working women to 26 weeks from 12 weeks. While Indian airlines currently give paid maternity leave as per the 2017 law, most of them have no similar policy for men.

Jyotiraditya Scindia advocates for paternity leave in airlines; wants 50% women pilots

"I believe that our airlines are doing a tremendous job in terms of creating a healthy workplace environment for our women, whether it is creches, maternity leave and other structures," Scindia said in his speech during an event of the non-profit organisation "Women in Aviation".

"I think we need to move beyond that," he said.

"We need to create an environment that is not only gender-neutral but which looks at an equal responsibility on men as well as women in terms of family environment.A case in point is why do we look at the concept of only maternity leave. We must also look at the concept of paternity leave where men must also partake in the responsibility of bringing up children at home.I really believe that equity is more important than equality. It is a very nuanced approach but I think the time has come to recognise it. It is not a fight for equality. It is a fight for equity."Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister for Civil Aviation

Therefore, that mental shift has to happen, he said, adding that we all must recognise the differences and re-imagine the fundamentals of ethics at the workplace.

Currently, 15% of total pilots in India are women. Globally, the share of women pilots is even lower at around 5%. Scindia said: "Is 15% good enough? My answer is flat no."

Jyotiraditya Scindia Says We Need More Female Pilots

"The reason is that the odds that you have overcome, the stereotypes you have surpassed, the pressure of performance you have endured have been extremely daunting. You have pierced every glass ceiling," he noted.

But today, we need to shift the paradigm, he added. He said there must come a day in India that this 15% reaches 50% of the country's pilot strength.

International carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) on Wednesday, March 16 announced that its Airbus 380 Superjumbo aircraft has resumed services from Mumbai. The superjumbo aircraft landed in Mumbai at 21:20 hours on Monday, March 14, 2022, after a two-year break in services, the airline said.

SIA said that the A380 replaced the Airbus A350-900 on the SQ 424/423 Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) services between Mumbai and Singapore.

Singapore Airlines resume services from Mumbai with Airbus A380 jumbo

The international carrier said that all passengers travelling to Singapore on the A380 inaugural flight SQ 423 were welcomed back on board with chocolates and personalised cards. The boarding was commenced with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony, it said.

ALSO READ - Singapore Airlines to allow quarantine-free travel for all India-Singapore flights under VTL

SIA’s A380 features 471 seats in four classes: six suites and 78 business class seats on the upper deck, as well as 44 premium economy class and 343 economy class seats on the main deck.

“This is indeed a historic moment for SIA as we have been able to bring our iconic Airbus A380 back to Mumbai after a long absence of 723 days. Our A380 superjumbo has a loyal fan base in India. We are excited to be able to cater to the strong demand here and reaffirm our commitment to our customers in this key market.SIA is hoping to progressively increase its frequencies from all its points across India in the weeks and months ahead and are also keen to resume A380 services from Delhi soon.We are confident that the A380, with its larger seat capacity, will be the preferred choice for our customers seeking comfortable and safe quarantine-free travel to Singapore from both Mumbai and Delhi. We look forward to welcoming our customers back onboard the world’s largest passenger aircraft, where they can once again enjoy our world-class product and services."Sy Yen Chen, General Manager India, Singapore Airlines (SIA)

The six semi-private suite cabins offer privacy and luxury, complete with privacy doors, an independent swivel chair and a stand-alone bed with hotel-style evening turndown service. Four of the suites can also be combined to form double suites for couples travelling together.

Suite passengers are offered a choice of Dom Perignon or Krug Champagnes, sleeper suits and premium amenities from Lalique, as well as meals, served on fine linen and Wedgewood china, the airline said in a statement.

Singapore Airlines' A380 Business class

The business class seats can be combined to create fully lie-flat double beds, all forward-facing and with direct aisle access. All cabins also enjoy award-winning cuisine, extensive inflight entertainment, and cabin crew service.

SIA was the first global carrier to fly the A380 superjumbo in October 2007. In 2017, following an extensive four-year development program, the airline launched a multi-million-dollar cabin product upgrade for its A380. The new cabin made its debut in India on September 1, 2019.

Airbus on Wednesday, March 16 said it will put A350 aircraft on static display at the Wings India airshow to be held in Hyderabad from March 24-27.

In a statement, Airbus said will also display a scale model of its single-aisle A220 aircraft at Wings India 2022 to be held at the Begumpet airport in Hyderabad.

Airbus A350 to be displayed at the Wings India 2022 airshow

While A350 is a wide-bodied aircraft, A220 is a narrow-bodied aircraft. Wide-bodied aircraft can travel longer distances. Only two Indian carriers — Air India and Vistara — have wide-bodied planes in their fleets.

At Hyderabad, Airbus will be present at Stand 12 in Hall A. The company will also display a scale model of its single-aisle A220 aircraft, purpose-built for the 100-160 seat market that can prove to be a game-changer for regional connectivity in India. Alongside it will be a cutaway model of the A350-900.

Airbus believes that the A350 aircraft will shape the future of long-range travel.

"The A350 offers the greatest range capability combined with the lowest fuel burn, and is the strategic enabler for Indian airlines to regain market share in the lucrative long-haul segment and to profitably grow their operations.We are delighted to be showcasing the A350 aircraft at Wings India 2022."Rmi Maillard, President and MD of Airbus India and South Asia

Airbus Helicopters will showcase scale models of the ACH130 from its corporate portfolio and the multi-role H160. Visitors to the stand can also learn about an array of material, airframe and training services offered by Airbus and gain knowledge about its open digital platform for aviation – Skywise.

During public days (March 26-27), Airbus will host a “Meet-and-Greet” recruitment event at its stand. The company will be looking for specific skill sets, including in Big Data, IoT, avionics software and airframe engineering.

Airbus believes that the A350 aircraft will shape the future of long-range travel.

Candidates possessing specific skill sets, including in Big Data, IoT, avionics software and airframe engineering and are looking for an opportunity to make aviation their career choice, will get to meet the company executives at the stall as they might consider filling up the positions in digital and engineering streams.

ALSO READ - Hyderabad to host Wings India – Asia’s largest Civil Aviation show

Wings India-2022, Asia’s largest Civil Aviation Show, will be held at the Begumpet Airport from March 24 to 27 with the first two days being business days and the rest for the general public.

The fifth edition of Wings India, a biennial exhibition on civil aviation, is organized by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

Jet fuel prices on Wednesday, March 16 were hiked by over 18% - the steepest ever increase - to all-time high levels after international oil prices surged to a multi-year high. The increase is the sixth straight this year - led to prices soaring past the INR 1-lakh-per-kilolitre mark for the first time.

Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) - the fuel that helps aeroplanes fly - was hiked by 17,135.63 per kl, or 18.3%, to INR 110,666.29 per kl in the national capital, according to a price notification by state-owned fuel retailers.

Jet fuel prices are revised on the 1st and 16th of every month based on the average international price of benchmark fuel in the preceding fortnight.

Jet fuel prices were hiked by over 18% - the steepest ever increase - to all-time high levels after international oil prices surged to a multi-year high.

International oil prices had climbed to a 14-year high of near USD 140 per barrel last week on fears of supply disruption following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Rates have since mellowed to around USD 100 per barrel.

In Mumbai, ATF price soared to INR 109,119.83 a kl and it costs INR 114,979.70 in Kolkata. Jet fuel is priced at INR 114,133.73 per kl in Chennai. Jet fuel, which makes up for almost 40% of the running cost of an airline, has this year surged to new highs.

The previous peak of INR 71,028.26 per kl was recorded in August 2008, when international crude oil prices touched USD 147 per barrel. Brent crude oil on Wednesday, March 15 was trading just above USD 100 per barrel.

ATF prices have increased every fortnight since the start of 2022

ATF prices have increased every fortnight since the start of 2022. In six hikes beginning January 1, ATF prices have been increased by INR 36,643.88 kl or almost 50%.

Brent crude oil, the best-known international benchmark, was at USD 82.74 per barrel on November 5, 2021, before it started to fall and touched USD 68.87 a barrel on December 1.

Globally, oil prices, which had traded lower early in the session, turned higher today, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine continuing to stoke volatile trade. Brent crude rose 1.26% to USD 101.17 per barrel, and U.S. crude added 0.93% to USD 97.34 per barrel.