Airbus has stated that it would add more than 13,000 new employees globally in 2023 as it gets ready to ramp up commercial aircraft production.
This is despite many tech businesses laying off staff as a cost-saving tactic owing to concerns about the impending recession and global economic crisis. Airbus exemplifies how ironically the aviation industry is now operating with its necessity of recruiting staff.
Airbus has said that it will hire more than 13,000 new people globally in 2023 as it prepares to ramp up commercial aircraft production
“In 2022 we welcomed more than 13,000 new employees within Team Airbus around the world, in a complex environment which tested our resilience and attractiveness as a global employer.”
–Thierry Baril, Chief Human Resources & Workplace Officer, Airbus
The company stated that the newly employed staff would play a crucial role in assisting it in increasing production as well as the European aircraft manufacturer's "ambitious decarbonization roadmap and preparing the future of aviation."
“We call on talented individuals from all over the world to join us in our journey to make sustainable aerospace a reality and to help us build a better, more diverse and inclusive workplace for all our employees.”
–Thierry Baril added
The focus will be on technical and manufacturing profiles as well as novel positions in fields like energy, cyber, and digital that will assist Airbus' long-term growth. A third of the total number of newly created roles, or 9,000, will be held by recent graduates and will be located in Europe.
The emphasis will be on manufacturing and technical positions as well as in industries like energy, cyber, and digital that will support Airbus' long-term growth
At the moment, Airbus employs over 130,000 people worldwide, including those working on its final assembly lines in China, Europe, and North America.
Workers in the tech sector who lost their jobs as a result of an industry-wide downsizing push now have the ideal chance.
According to Bloomberg, Airbus may consider hiring some employees who have been let go by large technology companies, especially if they have expertise in fields the company is striving to expand. Over 70,000 jobs were cut by major technological giants like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta (Facebook) in the last year, and employment losses are spreading throughout the industry.
The new hires will assist in addressing challenges in helicopters, space, and defence, and ramping up commercial aircraft.
Throughout 2022, the manufacturer struggled to meet its delivery goals; after twice modifying the goal, it finally settled on 700 aircraft deliveries. Due to a challenging supply chain situation, the European Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) was only able to deliver 661 aircraft.
In early December 2022, Airbus issued a warning to investors that it would not be able to meet that goal. The OEM did, however, emphasise that it would not significantly affect its financial outcomes.
Also read: Airbus abandons its 2022 commercial aircraft delivery goal
According to Reuters, last week, a revived Air India is expected to announce a historic order for 495 aeroplanes on January 27. As part of that order, 235 single-aisle aircraft are expected to be purchased by Airbus.
On January 27, Air India set to make a historic order announcement for 495 aircraft. 235 single-aisle aircraft are anticipated to be purchased by Airbus as part of the agreement.
The agreement, which is approximately divided with rival Boeing, comprises a total of 425 single-aisle aircraft, comprising 235 Airbus A320neo family aircraft and 190 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, according to sources who declined to be named.
According to the sources, the purchase will also likely include up to 70 widebody long-haul aircraft, including up to 40 Airbus A350s, 20 Boeing 787s, and 10 Boeing 777Xs.
Source: CNBC-TV18
Read next
Tata Sons may invest USD 1.5-1.8 billion in the proposed airline to be created after the merger of Air India and Vistara, a report in Mint said on Friday, January 27. The investments will be made from the proceeds received as dividend income from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and other group firms.
"The board (of Tata Sons) has to decide on the exact amount to be invested in Air India-Vistara, among other initiatives by Tata group. A significant portion could be set aside for investment into Air India-Vistara combined," a person aware of the matter told Mint.
The money will be used primarily to expand the fleet, raise the airline's market share by 30%, improve customer service and increase global slot facilities. The infusion may start in the first quarter of 2023-24 (FY24).
About 80% of Tata Sons' dividend income comes from TCS. The report added that the capital considered to be infused into the entity is equivalent to 50-60% of the dividend income received from TCS in FY23.
Tata Sons to invest USD 1.5-1.8 billion in Air India - Vistara merger
“Most plans regarding funding requirements for various areas of the aviation business are ready. Once the regulatory approvals for the merger come in and the allocation is budgeted formally, the work will start. A total infusion of around USD 3 billion in phases should be good enough to start with. Further funding can be done after FY24 if the current investment works as per the plan," the person cited earlier said.
In November last year, Singapore Airlines and Tata Sons announced the merger of Air India and Vistara. Singapore Airlines will hold 25.1% of the merged entity. The merger is expected to be completed by March 2024.
Air India and Vistara will need approvals from several countries, apart from India’s Director General of Civil Aviation, Competition Commission of India, and Reserve Bank of India, to complete the merger. Vistara is a 51:49 joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines. It typically takes six months for all the requisite approvals.
In addition, the merger requires the sanction of the National Company Law Tribunal and redemption or conversion of certain outstanding liabilities owed by the Airports Authority of India to Tata Sons (and/or its affiliates) on or before the filing of the merger scheme.
Vistara said that as the company awaits regulatory approval for the merger, it will not place any new plane orders.
On January 24, Vistara said that as the company awaits regulatory approval for the merger, it will not place any new plane orders. It will receive its pending order for 17 aircraft by the end of 2024, taking its total fleet to 70 planes.
ALSO READ - Vistara CEO on fleet size, aircraft orders, delays and international expansion
"We have not looked at any orders beyond that," its CEO Vinod Kannan said, according to Reuters. "There has been an announcement about the merger and integration with Air India. Once we have approval from the relevant authorities...we will have to sit down together with Air India as a joint entity to see what we do," he said.
ALSO READ - Air India likely to seal half of an order for some 495 jets with Boeing
Air India, on the other hand, is expected to seal half of an order worth billions of dollars for 495 jets with Boeing and engine suppliers General Electric and CFM International. These will have 190 Boeing 737 MAX narrowbody planes as well as some 20 Boeing 787s and 10 Boeing 777X aircraft.
(With Inputs from Mint)
Read next
Mumbai Airport has aimed to utilise more than 100 EVs there by FY24 in order to lower its carbon footprint and promote sustainable transportation.
Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) released a statement saying that the airport operator on Wednesday, January 25, brought out 45 EVs at the facility as part of the strategy to serve runway duties.
Also read: Aviation sustainability: the way forward
As part of its Operational Net Zero aim, the private airport operator also declared that it will switch all of its ICE-powered cars to EVs by 2029 and it also intends to interact with airport stakeholders and encourage them to transition to electric cars as well.
https://twitter.com/CSMIA_Official/status/1618204742399963138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1618204742399963138%7Ctwgr%5E303b22693cef9f10ca3aabda258ddb23c9dbe486%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fzeenews.india.com%2Felectric-vehicles%2Fmumbai-international-airport-adds-45-electric-cars-to-its-fleet-tata-nexon-ev-mg-zs-ev-and-more-2566212.html
In India, the use of electric vehicles is gradually spreading to all ownership and operating levels.
The CSMIA is looking into deploying 60 more EVs in the upcoming fiscal year, including converting ambulances, forwards command posts, security and airside operations, and maintenance utility vehicles, in addition to the 45 EVs that were deployed in January.
There is no specific model that the airport authority has adopted. Four different Electric Vehicles (EVs)—the Tata Nexon EV, MG ZS EV, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Tata Tigor EV—have been deployed by them.
The Tata Nexon EV was the first domestically produced EV to utilise a high-voltage architecture. Nexon EV Max and Nexon EV Prime, with claimed ranges of 453 km and 312 km, are the two versions that are currently available for purchase.
Prices for the Tigor EV start at Rs 12.49 lakh, ex-showroom. The sole compact electric sedan in the nation as of right now has a stated range of 315 km. With the back bench in position, the boot can hold 315 litres.
There is no specific model that the airport authority has adopted. Four different EVs have been deployed.
The MG ZS EV, which is sold with a 50.3 kWh battery pack, has a 461 km claimed range. It is now available for purchase at a starting price of Rs. 22.98 lakh (ex-showroom). The Astor, which is the ICE version of the MG ZS EV, is also available.
The Mumbai International Airport recently installed 12 DC fast chargers at various locations to make the area more accommodating for electric vehicles. The P1 Multi-level Car Parking (MCLP) at Terminal 1, P5 MCLP at Terminal 2, and Airside of CSMIA all provide DC fast chargers.
Recently, 12 DC fast chargers were placed across the Mumbai International Airport to improve the area's support for Electric Vehicles
According to MIAL, this project will contribute to lowering glasshouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels for transportation by about 25%.
The CSMIA recently won the “Best Sustainable Airport of the Year” award at the Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India’s (ASSOCHAM) 14th international conference and awards for civil aviation.
"With every green program that the airport initiates, it brings us a great sense of delight to be able to contribute to the aviation industry's journey towards attaining a sustainable future. It is a great honour for CSMIA to be achieving key milestones that indicate the reduction of carbon emissions under its Environment Social and Governance (ESG) policy commitments. As a responsible airport service provider, CSMIA strives to reduce its impact on the environment. Switching to electric vehicles will help to reduce carbon emissions, thereby lowering the airport's carbon footprint. CSMIA takes pride in its vision and mission to create an ecosystem that is centred to fast-track its journey towards carbon neutrality."
–Spokesperson, CSMIA
The CSMIA recently won the “Best Sustainable Airport of the Year” award at ASSOCHAM's 14th international conference
This would be an advancement in the CSMIA's objective to reach operational Net-Zero emission. This project will contribute to a 25% reduction in Scope 01 Greenhouse Gas emissions, resulting in more environmentally friendly transportation.
Source: Business Standard
Read next
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will ask the Indian Ministry of Defense for $4 billion to update the fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets.
The upgrade, known as Super Sukhoi, had a 2021 release date. But since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, it has been in limbo.
The upgrade to "Super Sukhoi" was planned to be released in 2021
According to various Indian news portals, the Indian government is now anticipated to approve a revised improvement programme. According to earlier reports, the proposal was changed to emphasise greater employment in the domestic aerospace industry.
About 150 fighter jets would upgrade to the "Super Sukhoi" fifth-generation fighter jet as a HAL nodal agency, greatly enhancing the Indian Air Force's fighter capacity.
In order to complete the Sukhoi-30 MK-I's equipment and systems, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the Indian Air Force will work jointly. 150 aircraft will then be modernised.
HAL and the IAF will collaborate to complete the Sukhoi-30 MK-I's equipment and systems
As Sukhoi-30 MKIs are joint products of India and Russia, the "Super Sukhoi" programme has received Russian approval. The Sukhoi will be upgraded using several Russian components and parts. There will be a contemporary cockpit on the "Super Sukhoi." Technically speaking, 150 fighter aircraft are now interoperable with fifth-generation fifty planes thanks to the upgrade's significant avionics and sensor component.
The Upgrades for “Super Sukhoi”
The avionics and sensor systems aboard the jets are the main targets of the enhancements. Notably, an Uttam MK3 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar produced by HAL will soon replace the slotted planar array radar, which was developed in the 1980s.
A new locally produced Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system will be used in conjunction with the radar, albeit its benefits over the original OLS-30 system have not yet been revealed.
Along with a new Digital Flight Control Computer (DFCC), the cockpit will also be updated with new displays. The capability of the weapons to carry a wider variety of air-to-air missiles, cruise missiles, and sensor pods made in the country is also to be updated.
The Planned Upgrades for Sukhoi Su30-MKI
Other long-range missiles with infrared homing may also be included in the Super Sukhoi's arsenal. Active radar homing medium range 100 km is another option for medium-range missiles. Other 80 km medium-range missiles can be added in addition to this.
The electronics on the Super Sukhoi will be upgraded, and the Super Sukhoi will have more weapon loads. The Super Sukhoi will have the same engine as the FGFA, extending its lifespan.
Testing & Roll Out
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a fourth-generation fighter aircraft created as a Sukhoi Su-30 derivative specifically for India. The Sukhoi Su-30 is a development of the Su-27 from the Soviet era.
The Su-30MKI has continued to be the Indian Air Force's most numerous combat aircraft when deliveries ceased in 2018, serving alongside smaller fleets of Mirage 2000, MiG-29, and MiG-21 aircraft.
Even when deliveries of the Su-30MKI ended in 2018, it remained the Indian Air Force's most numerous combat aircraft
The upgrading programme, which is scheduled to begin in 2024 and deliver the first updated aircraft by 2025, is projected to affect 150 out of the 260 Su-30MKIs operated by the Indian Air Force.
In 2024, HAL will start testing a number of the Super Sukhoi program's components. The Super Sukhoi program's prototypes will introduce new systems gradually, with full-scale modernisation beginning in 2027–28.
The Air Force Sukhoi-30 MK-I's software is degrading so quickly that an upgrade is now required to maintain it useful in upcoming air conflicts. By 2025, the Air Force anticipates having the first Super Sukhoi aircraft in service.
Source: The Defence Times
Read next
Air India introduces a Staff Stock Option Scheme, granting them about 3% of the company's equity share capital which is about 98 crore shares.
The Stock Option Scheme has been rolled out in an effort to motivate employees and boost performance. According to a document, the shares are also being made available to the permanent employees of Air India Express as part of the Employees' Share Benefit (ESB) Scheme 2022.
A total of 8,000 employees will benefit from the initiative to boost performance and provide incentives.
The plan to increase performance and offer rewards will benefit 8,000 staff in total
“In accordance with the share purchase agreement signed as part of the disinvestment process, Air India has initiated the Employee Share Benefit Scheme for eligible employees who were in service with the airline on the date of privatisation.”
“We will be working with the relevant employees to help them understand the long-term benefits and avail of the same.”
–Spokesperson, Air India, quoted by ET
The former national carrier, which Tata Group purchased last year, will be the second organisation in the salt-to-steel conglomerate to introduce a Stock Option Scheme for staff members after Tata Motors did so in 2018.
Air India’s Stock Option Scheme
According to the document sent to the staff, the price per share under the scheme for permanent employees will be 27 paise. According to a source cited by PTI, the sum is lower than the book value of 87–90 paise per share at the time of acquisition.
Also read: Tatas to announce ESOP plan for Air India employees
It is important to note that none of the company's employees will ever personally own any of the company's shares; instead, a trust will hold the shares. The scheme's implementation has been entrusted to SBI Caps Trustee Company Ltd.
No employee of the Company will ever personally own any of the Company's Shares; rather, the Shares will be held by a Trust
The company has given the trust permission to provide ESB benefits to qualified employees on up to 3% of the company shares that Talace purchased, or 97,99,56,600, from time to time, in one or more tranches, and for no cash consideration.
Upon payment of the aggregate exercise price along with any applicable taxes and fees, the trust will hold the ESB shares to provide the ESB benefit to the qualified employees. Air India, Air India Express, and the government's 50% stake in Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd. were all acquired by Talace, a division of Tata Sons.
Every year by July 15th, the Fair Market Value (FMV) will be determined, and employees will be allowed to cash in their shares.
Any qualified employee who retires on or after January 27, 2022, will be regarded as qualified and entitled to benefits in line with and subject to the rules of this plan.
ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) in other airlines
IndiGo and SpiceJet, two rival airlines to Air India, have ESOP plans in place as well. When IndiGo, a low-cost airline, first began to issue shares to its senior executives, most of them became millionaires when IndiGo went public in 2015 at a price of Rs 765 per share.
Air India's competitors, IndiGo and SpiceJet, also have ESOP schemes in place
Akasa Air, which was financed by the late businessman Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, is also offering stock options to recruit employees.
Source: ET
Read next
Air India will on Friday, January 27 seal half of an order worth billions of dollars for some 495 jets with Boeing and engine suppliers General Electric and CFM International, two industry sources said, as its new owner seeks to revive the airline and compete with much larger rivals.
After months of closely-guarded, tough negotiations, Air India is set to place an order for 190 Boeing 737 MAX narrowbody planes as well as some 20 Boeing 787s and 10 Boeing 777X on a day marking one year since Tata Group took control of the former state-run carrier, the sources told Reuters.
ALSO READ – Air India jumbo aircraft order to include B737 MAX and B787 Dreamliner
The second half of the order, which industry sources have told Reuters includes around 235 Airbus single-aisle jets and about 40 Airbus A350 widebody aircraft, is expected to be formally wrapped up over the coming days.
ALSO READ - Airbus likely to get 235 single-aisle jet orders out of 500 from Air India
Air India is likely to seal half of an order for some 495 jets with Boeing today
Senior Boeing, GE and CFM officials are expected in India to mark the deal on Friday, January 27. Manufacturers Boeing and Airbus, as well as CFM's joint venture partners GE and Safran, declined comment. Air India did not respond to a request for comment.
Despite earlier expectations of a single coordinated announcement, it remains unclear when either deal may be publicly disclosed especially with the Aero India air show looming in February when deals like this are usually revealed. It was reported last month Air India was closing in on a deal for about 500 jets.
ALSO READ – Air India close to placing landmark orders for 500 jetliners
The order, once finalised, aims to put Air India in the league of large global airlines and make it an influential customer for planemakers and suppliers at a time when its home market is seeing a strong post-Covid travel surge.
Under its new owners, Air India is looking to restore its reputation at home and overseas as a storied carrier with impeccable service and world-class planes.
Domestic passenger air traffic in India grew 47% in 2022 from a year ago, government data showed. Analysts caution the airline faces intense competition given the connectivity carved out by local and international rivals.
India, which is set to overtake China as the world's most populous country, has a large, under-served air travel market dominated by budget carrier IndiGo. The bulk of India's outbound passenger traffic, however, is carried by Middle Eastern airlines like Emirates and Qatar Airways.
Under its new owners, Air India is looking to restore its reputation at home and overseas as a storied carrier with impeccable service and world-class planes. It has put back in service nearly 20 aircraft that had been grounded for years due to lack of parts and money. The airline has also said it will spend over USD 400 million to refurbish its entire legacy wide-body fleet of 27 Boeing 787-8s and 13 B777 aircraft.
ALSO READ - Air India to refurbish its wide-body aircraft interiors by investing USD 400 million
It was reported last month Air India was closing in on a deal for about 500 jets.
The aim is to corner 30% of the domestic air travel market over the next five years thus narrowing the gap with market leader IndiGo. It also wants to increase by "multiples" its current share of international travel, the airline's new chief executive Campbell Wilson previously said.
Tata's four airlines, including two budget carriers, Air India and Vistara its joint venture with Singapore Airlines, have a combined market share of 24%.
Analysts have said Air India can claw back some passengers from rival Gulf carriers but not before it matches their quality of fleet and service. Nor will the domestic battle with IndiGo happen without tough competition from a carrier that continues to expand.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
Comment