B777-300ERSF- A new benchmark for cargo operators

The newest variant of the B777 series is all set to enter service with the introduction of B777-300ERSF. Touted to be a brand new model, she is, essentially a converted version of the B777-300 passenger variant.Let's take a look at what's new.

A brief history

FlightGlobal

The design of B777-300ERSF was conceptualized way back in 2019 when GECAS and IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) collaborated together to establish, what is now dubbed as" The Big Twin"- emphasizing its status as the largest ever twin-engine freighter. The conversion of the initial aircraft would mostly take place in Tel Aviv(Israel) by the IAI, which has a renowned reputation in the field of aircraft conversions.

Next Gen Cargo Freighter

With the introduction of this classic design, The Big Twin will offer operators 25% more capacity than smaller twin-engined long-haul freighters of today and it is anticipated that the Big Twin will achieve up to 21% lower fuel-burn per tonne than aging 4-engine freighters.

IAI commends GECAS’ ability to see around corners and work with the IAI Group to build a great aircraft that the market requires.Yosef Melamed, IAI’s EVP IAI & GM Aviation Group

GE90 is the preferred choice of engine for this aircraft type and hence GE Aviation has worked with GECAS to create unique engine solutions dedicated to the support of freighter operators.

The GE90 is designed specifically for the longer-range Boeing 777 aircraft, providing up to 115,000 lbs. of thrust, and has built a legacy of outstanding performance, reliability, and payload.said GE Aviation GE90 General Manager Mike Kauffman

Facts and figures

The 777-300 ERSF is the only large aircraft offering a significant level of operational commonality with the 777-200LRF. Additionally, it can also operate seamlessly alongside a B777-300ER.

The STAT Trade Times

This commonality allows for a host of benefits like:

No additional simulator training for the crew

2. Same engine- 100% commonality with 777-300ER/200LR/-200LRF fleets

3. No additional training required for the maintenance crew

4. Same configuration for palettes and containers, providing seamless interlining.

5. Low capital cost enabling higher efficiency even with utilization below 2500 Flight Hours/year.

The very first B777-300ERSF to roll out from IAI's. The facility is an Emirates B777-300ER  with MSN 32789 and registered as A6-EBB. GECAS would go on to possess the leased aircraft from Emirates after it was decommissioned from passenger service in February 2020.

Expected entry into service

Prior to entering service, it will work to obtain regulatory approval and certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) and the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA).

The conversion process will take approximately 130 days, at the end of which the passenger aircraft will be turned into a freighter aircraftIAI

Once all the approvals are obtained and the conversion is successfully done, the aircraft is expected to enter service with Kalitta Air, a US based cargo operator, possibly by 2022.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6419RIBico&t=78s

About GECAS

GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) is a world-leading aviation lessor and financier. It offers a broad array of financing products and services on a wide variety of aircraft types including operating leases, purchase/leasebacks, secured debt financing, asset sales and servicing, and airframe parts and management. Much of the aircraft types operated in India are leased from GECAS.

IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries)

IAI Ltd. is Israel's largest aerospace and defense company and a globally recognized technology and innovation leader. It has also developed a niche for converting passenger aircraft into refueling and cargo variants.

With a surge in cargo operations owing to a slump in passenger flights and Airbus planning to launch its A350F(freighter) version soon, do you think this would be the next favorite among cargo operators? Drop-in your comments below

COVER: General Electric

Domestic air passenger traffic continued on the growth trajectory in August with volumes growing up to 31% to 66 lakh over the previous month, helped by higher capacity deployment and a downward trend in the pandemic, credit rating agency ICRA said on Monday, September 6.

The domestic passenger traffic in July 2021 was 51 lakh, ICRA said in a release. Domestic passenger traffic on a year-on-year basis, however, spiked around 131% over August 2020 traffic of 28.3 lakh, it said.

The rating agency said despite the continued recovery in the previous month, there is continued stress on demand, driven largely by the second wave of the pandemic, limiting travel to only necessary travel.

"The air travel demand has continued to register improvement and the same grew by around 30-31% at around 65-66 lakh in August, compared to around 50.1 lakh in July 2021, signifying a y-o-y growth of around 131%. For August 2021, the average daily departures were at around 1,900, significantly higher than the average daily departures of around 900 in August 2020, and higher than around 1,500 in July 2021, though it remains lower than around 2,000 in April 2021."Kinjal Shah, Vice President and Co-group Head for Corporate, ICRA

The airlines' capacity deployment for August 2021 was around 99% higher at around 57,500 departures, as against 28,834 departures in August 2020, Shah said, adding that on a sequential basis, the number of departures in August 2021 was higher by around 22%, as Covid-19 infections demonstrated a downward trajectory.

Domestic air passenger traffic continued on the growth trajectory in August with volumes growing up to 31% to 66 lakh over the previous month. (Image Courtsey - DNA India)

The average number of passengers per flight during August 2021 was 114, against an average of 106 passengers per flight in July 2021, she said. Though the recovery continued in August 2021, there is continued stress on demand, driven largely by the second wave of the pandemic, limiting the demand to only necessary travel, while both leisure and business travel have been curtailed due to various state-wide restrictions, despite the decline in infections, she said.

The Civil Aviation Ministry permitted increasing the capacity deployment on domestic routes, gradually from 33%, with effect from May 25, when domestic travel resumed after the first wave last year, to 80%, with effect from December 3, 2020.

However, it reduced the permissible capacity deployment to 50% of pre-Covid levels, with effect from June 1, 2021, due to the resurgence of the second wave of the pandemic. It had again increased the permitted capacity to 65 per cent with effect from July 5, which has subsequently been increased to 75.2% from August 12 this year, Icra said. In addition, the ministry has also increased the minimum and maximum fare band by 10-13% for domestic flights with effect from August 12, 2021, until August 31, 2021.

The average number of passengers per flight during August 2021 was 114, against an average of 106 passengers per flight in July 2021. (Image Courtsey - DNA India)

"In ICRA's view, the price increase may not materially impact the passenger traffic demand as in the current scenario, travel is limited to only necessary travel while both leisure and business travel has been curtailed due to various state-wide restrictions and the spread of the infections. However, it will allow airlines to recoup some part of the increase in jet fuel prices, thereby cushioning some impact on the airlines' losses,” it stated.

Air Traffic in the first week of September

We can see continuous growth in the air traffic movement in the first week of September too. The air passenger numbers are continuously rising as compared to August and earlier months. The footfall in the airport is increasing amid the fear of a possible third wave of COVID-19.

The below table shows the data of different airlines in the first week of September. The data values are in percentage.

DATEINDIGOAIR INDIASPICEJETVISTARAGO FIRSTAIR ASIA01.09.202177.575.483.878.974.770.702.09.202170.765.377.370.8676103.09.202171.468.477.873.863.560.904.09.202177.279.383.7777569.405.09.202179.378.485.978.67570.606.09.202168.962.377.268.2706107.09.20216957.676.466.26660.2Data Credit - Ministry of Civil Aviation

Rising ATF Prices

Elevated aviation turbine fuel prices continue to pose a near-term challenge. However, a marginal sequential decline of 3.8% in September 2021 is a respite for the industry. The MoCA also increased the minimum and maximum fare band by 10-13% for domestic flights with effect from August 12 until August 31.

In ICRA’s view, the price increase may not materially impact passenger traffic demand as travel is limited to a necessary one. However, it will allow airlines to recoup some part of the increase in ATF prices, cushioning the impact of losses.

A London-bound Air India (AI-111) flight on September 6 aborted take-off at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport after a swarm of ants was found in the business class.

According to Air India, the aircraft was in the passenger bay when the complaint was made. The complaint was looked into, the aircraft changed and the flight took off. 

The flight took off later after Air India changed the aircraft, news agency ANI reported. The plane was then replaced with another Boeing 787-8 aircraft.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1434845221062316034

Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, the Prince of Bhutan son and heir apparent of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was on board the London-Delhi Air India flight.

Air India later issued a clarification stating that contrary to media reports, there was no swarm of ants in the cabin, nor an aborted take-off.

https://twitter.com/airindiain/status/1434884701693509639

Earlier in May 2021, a similar bizarre fate had befallen another Air India flight. An Air India flight bound to Newark (United States) from Delhi International Airport had to circle back within 30-minutes of take-off after a bat was found inside the jetliner’s business class cabin.

In July 2021 too, an Air India Express flight bound for Saudi Arabia, had to make an emergency landing at Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after a crack was noticed on the windshield. The flight was carrying cargo and crew members and had no passengers.

Kuwait has become the latest city in the middle east to resume direct commercial international flights with India from Tuesday, September 7 after a four-month period. Kuwait lifted travel restrictions last month and announced that it will resume commercial international flights with India, along with other countries in Southeast Asia and Egypt. The Gulf nation had opened applications for tourist visas from all countries starting August 30.

Kuwait has become the latest city in the middle east to resume direct commercial international flights with India from September 7. (Image Courtesy - Saudi Gazette)

Apart from India, other countries from where the international flights will start operations include Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Notably, the international flights will resume services while adhering to COVID guidelines issued by a ministerial committee of Kuwait.

Travel Guidelines For International Flights to Kuwait 

All passengers will need to be fully vaccinated with any one of the Covid-19 vaccines approved by the WHO.Kuwaiti citizens, their first degree relatives and their domestic workers will be allowed to enter the country.All passengers will have to present a negative PCR test result from within 48 hours before departing to Kuwait.Passengers are mandated to download and register on the Alhosn app, using the UID and phone number

Kuwait had suspended all direct international flights from India on April 24 until further notice due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kuwait had suspended all direct international flights from India on April 24 until further notice due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Image Courtsey - Arabianbusiness)

India started flights between 49 cities under air bubble arrangement with 18 countries in September, according to the civil aviation ministry's notification. Under an air bubble pact, special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories.

When it comes to passenger experience, Airbus has left no stone unturned to make sure guests have the best and unparalleled sense of comfort and safety. The aerospace behemoth had been experimenting with various onboard products in recent months when it came up with the concept of "Airbus Airspace Cabin". Marketing it as " The most valuable space in sky", and truly it is, what exactly is the concept all about?Let's find out.

What is the vision all about?

Inspired by airlines, technology companies from Silicon Valley and start-ups, Airbus has brought to life a future flying experience – the Airspace Cabin Vision 2030.

Initially designed for widebodies and unveiled on the next Gen A350 XWB, the company managed to create quite a stir when it rolled the design for narrowbodies, earlier this year.

A350 AIRBUS AIRSPACE

With several in-flight testing, The A320 Family’s new Airspace cabin took shape during last year’s “full-scale cabin installation test” – when Airbus’ teams performed a trial installation of a fully integrated cabin in an A321neo fuselage.

Sporting futuristic design and state-of-the-art passenger comfort features, the Airspace cabin for the A320 family presents the following:

1.Redesigned entrance area with a customisable "Human Centric Lighting" that illuminates the cabin in a warm red light graduating to colder blue tones with intermediate shades. This results in an ambient setup throughout the flight and also reduces jetlag.

2.New, XL, spacious overhead bins-quite an update from the previous overhead bin configurations for the A320. The huge new overhead bins have a forty percent larger volume and can hold sixty per cent more suitcases, as they can be stowed vertically in the bins.

3.Improvised window bezels allowing more light into the cabin consistent with passengers biorhythm (depending on time of the day)

4.Integrated window shades and new side walls delivering a sleek, customized look while yielding even more shoulder room

5.Lavatories with more touchless features and anti-microbial coatings

6.Customizable ‘hero’ ceiling light with full-colour LED lighting throughout the cabin.

The initial in-flight testing subjected the cabin to conditions well beyond what it would normally be subjected to in a standard flight profile. Special cameras and sensors throughout the interior were connected to dedicated flight-test and recording equipment in the cabin so that the engineers could analyse the performance and characteristics of the cabin elements in real-time on board, as well as in the lab afterwardsMichael Willmer, Airbus’ technical leader for the A320 Family Airspace Cabin programme

He further stated that the rationale behind these tests were to ensure the overall maturity and robustness of the new cabin during flight.

Airbus has always strived to maintain a commonality amongst all its cabin designs, to promote a family feel-on narrowbodies and widebodies alike.While the concept sprang to life with the A350, the design has also been inculcated in the A330 neo and A380.

Lufthansa has become the first airline to roll out the Airbus Airspace Cabin on its A321 neo. Swiss, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings are soon to follow suit on their new aircraft of the A320 family.

Today the teams are thrilled that their Airspace product for the A320 Family has become a realityWillmer

Here's a small video featuring a A320 Airspace cabin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVzDTgkI414

With India being a supermarket for the A320 narrowbody and Indigo placing massive orders for the type, how soon do you think will it be before this concept hits the Indian markets?Comment below

COVER: Airbus

IMAGE(s): autoevolution.com, airbus

With the re-opening of airports in various states following an improvement in the Covid-19 situation, the domestic passenger traffic from Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) has shown massive growth in August as compared to July.

The latest data shows that 26,067 passengers took flights from MIA for travel within the country in August as against 18,557 departures in July, showing a jump of 40.5%, a release from the MIA said. Similarly, 26,732 passengers arrived in August at MIA from domestic destinations as compared to 19,744 passengers in July, a rise of 35.4%.

Industry sources say with the easing of travel curbs within India and abroad, various airlines are re-starting flights from MIA to various destinations, resulting in a healthy rise in traffic. The traffic is expected to increase further in the coming months with the start of the festival season beginning September 10.

Indigo has re-started its flights to Sharjah after the UAE government allowed travel to the country. Similarly, Air India Express re-started its flights to Abu Dhabi with the increase in passenger flow from MIA. Indigo has also started an additional flight to Hyderabad as traffic picked up substantially across India.

While Air India has increased the frequency of its daily flights to Mumbai and Coimbatore, its subsidiary Air India Express has re-started flights to various cities in the Middle East in August.

Indigo has re-started its flights to Sharjah after the UAE government allowed travel to the country. Similarly, Air India Express re-started its flights to Abu Dhabi with the increase in passenger flow from MIA. Indigo has also started an additional flight to Hyderabad as traffic picked up substantially across India.

On Thursday, Spicejet resumed flights between Dubai and MIA. In September, the flight will be operated twice a week on Sundays and Thursdays, said a Spicejet senior executive.

The passenger flow is expected to improve in the coming weeks as more destinations re-open in the Middle East and with the launch of rapid RT-PCR test facilities at the MIA.

The passenger flow is expected to improve in the coming weeks as more destinations re-open in the Middle East and with the launch of rapid RT-PCR test facilities at the MIA. The new destinations in August from MIA included Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Thiruvananthapuram by Air India Express, Hyderabad and Sharjah by IndiGo and daily flights to Mumbai and Coimbatore by Air India, the release said.

The MIA has undertaken various safety measures and has implemented numerous SOPs, including the preventive measures laid down by the Government to safeguard the passenger's well-being and curb the spread of the virus, the release added.