India on the verge of a mega aviation boom

On October 15, 1932, JRD Tata, India’s first licensed commercial pilot, operated the first flight of an airline, then called Tata Air Services, from Karachi to Mumbai. Though the DeHavilland Puss Moth aircraft had two passenger seats, it only carried mail. Today, Indian aviation handles over 182 million passengers and three million metric tonnes of freight every year.

Recently, the Indian airlines industry had been walking on a tightrope. This is even before the outbreak of the virus mainly due to stiff competition and high operating costs. With the rapid spread of infections throughout the country between 2020 and 2021, the sector was crippled. Lockdown and movement restrictions were imposed for both domestic as well as international air travel.

As India grows wealthier, the demand for air travel increases proportionately. Such an expansion will make it an even more attractive market for other industries, leading to greater travel to, from and within India by those based overseas.

India is on the cusp of a mega aviation boom.

On the production side, geopolitical trends and supportive policies portend increased investment in India across sectors, representing manufacturing and services. This, too, will drive both economic growth and air travel, especially for international connectivity and logistics.

Geographically, India enjoys all the advantages of international “superconnector” airlines. It is estimated that 30% of the world’s population resides within five hours of India — whilst the rapid development of new Indian airports and the Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme to support domestic routes will only strengthen the network effect that will add to further growth.

"We are forecasting airlines to rebound quickly and add 25%-plus percent annual seats back into the market." Dave Schulte, the managing director for regional marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

In addition, the abundance of domestic talent, a vast and affluent diaspora, diversity and quality of tourism, and cultural and religious attractions that are second to none.

If Tata decides to integrate its airline operations, it could be the largest airline in the country.

Through the right combination of public and private initiatives, India can develop as a significant global maintenance, repair and overhaul centre servicing the world’s airlines and increasingly become a manufacturing location for high-tech aviation components.

With aligned efforts of airports, airlines and the public sector, India can become a major international aviation hub — indeed, it can host multiple hubs — and become one of the most connected countries on earth.

The next decade is India’s opportunity to seize. Air India, which proudly celebrates JRD Tata’s legacy and contribution to Indian aviation, is back home, and is fully energized.

A Bangalore-bound Akasa Air flight from Mumbai returned to the city airport due to a burning smell in the cabin, which later turned out to be due to a bird strike, a DGCA official said on Saturday.

Taking note of the situation, the pilot took prompt action returning the passengers and the plane safely to Mumbai Airport. There was no confirmation on the number of passengers on board the flight.

Notably, flight number Akasa Air QP-1103 was involved in the incident. The flight landed at Mumbai Airport and all passengers are safe. The incident happened while the plane was completing its flight QP-1103.

Akasa Air started its operations on August 7 this year.

Akasa Air later confirmed that its Bangalore flight returned to Mumbai due to odour in the cabin, resulting from the bird hit. In a statement said, the airline said: "The aircraft landed safely in Mumbai and all passengers were deboarded. Arrangements were made to accommodate their journey."

"Akasa Air flight QP 1103 flying from Mumbai to Bengaluru on October 14 diverted back to Mumbai due to odour in the cabin resulting from a bird hit. The aircraft landed safely in Mumbai and all passengers were deboarded. The aircraft was positioned for a detailed inspection and has now returned to service."Akasa Air, spokesperson.

The DGCA official said, however, no other abnormality including in engine parameters was observed.

Also read - Big plane order may be placed by Akasa Air in the next 18 months

"The aircraft VT-YAE, operating Akasa Air flight AKJ1103 from Mumbai for Bangalore was involved in air turnback due to the burning smell felt in the cabin. The smell increased as the thrust was increased.After landing during the inspection, bird remains were found on engine number 1 of the aircraft," and added that, "the burning smell was due to bird strike."An official said.

According to a DGCA official, bird remains were found on an engine of the aircraft during inspection.

Akasa Air has been aggressively scaling up its operations and have crossed 250 flights per week, along a total of nine routes.

Akasa Air's fleet size will be 18 aircraft (B737 MAX) by the end of March 2023 and over the next four years, the airline will add 54 additional aircraft, taking its total fleet size to 72.

Also read - Akasa Air completes 2 months of flight operations; to allow pets on board

Solar power transmission could provide Europe with more autonomous access to renewable energy sources. In its X-Works Innovation Factory, Airbus has now demonstrated how this novel technology idea might function.

How does the Airbus "Power Beaming" demonstrator operate?

Power Beaming is a novel energy concept that, up until recently, had only been on the minds of ardent IT experts. Jean-Dominique Coste, Yoann Thueux, and their colleagues have now demonstrated its inner workings to decision-makers from politics and business.

The potential of the technology is to capture sunlight and then beam it wirelessly.  explains Jean-Dominique Coste, who is responsible for this technology driven by Airbus’ Central Research & Technology and Blue Sky departments

This solar energy would then provide electricity to cities, factories, homes, and eventually airplanes on Earth.

Representative | Medium

He continues by saying that power beaming might provide Europe and other nations with tremendous opportunities to access renewable energy sources and further the goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050.

Power beaming technologies would enable the creation of new energy networks in the sky and could help solve the energy problem. They would enable countries to fully control and distribute their energy where needed, independentlyCoste says

The demonstration at Airbus' X-Works Innovation Factory last month was successful, albeit on a smaller scale: using microwave beaming, Coste, Thueux, and their colleagues transmitted green energy between two points representing "Earth" and "Space" over a distance of 36 meters, producing green hydrogen and illuminating a model city.

Sky-based new energy networks

Outside the Earth's atmosphere, the sun's light is available indefinitely, not just during the day and in good weather like on Earth, plus it’s about 50 percent more intense. says Thueux

It would be safe and controllable to beam the power down across a large area. The beams would be picked up by many antennae back on Earth, some even offshore, and the energy would be reassembled to create electricity.

Additionally, there is no requirement for elaborate and expensive ground infrastructure, like as power plants, pipelines, or cables, to distribute electricity on Earth. "Power Beaming" is used for both of those things.

When will Power Beaming become a reality?

The first operational Power Beaming prototypes may be in use by the early 2030s. However, more still has to be done. Getting the most energy possible from the resources you harness is a key focus of research in the domain of overall efficiency.

We advocate a stepped approach to scale the system: from the ground, to aerial systems, then in space. This could in fact be a game changer for aircraft, with the potential to extend the range, reduce the weight, but also to relay power to other places, managing energy like data. This has raised a lot of interest in the energy sector. In the end this will be a joint effort with institutions and the energy industryexplains Jean-Dominique Coste

Representative | European Space Agency

According to Coste, the levelized costs of energy would be comparable to those of significant energy projects already underway on Earth, such as nuclear power stations, offshore oil rigs, and big renewable energy farms. However, as additional power plants are developed, costs will drop because of economies of scale.

SOURCE: Airbus

COVER: Airbus

Vistara, a joint venture between Tatas and Singapore Airlines, flies to 11 international destinations. It has a fleet of 53 aircraft, including 41 A320s, 5 A321 neo, 5 Boeing 737-800 NGs and 2 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

Starting December 2, Indian airline Vistara is set to start services between Pune and Singapore. The flight is set to operate four times a week, flying a A321 neo aircraft with three class configurations.

Vistara is also set to commence daily services between Mumbai and Kathmandu from November 15.

Vistara to start Pune-Singapore flights from Dec 2, Mumbai-Kathmandu from Nov 15.

Vistara is currently planning on growing its international influence as a result of consistent, predictable profits.

"We are very excited to be able to launch the long-awaited connection between Pune and Singapore. Singapore is a key market for business and leisure travel from various points in India and we are glad that the new route will offer enhanced connectivity to our customers."Mr. Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara.

The airline has offered introductory all- inclusive round-trip fares for Pune- Singapore-Pune at INR 17,799 for economy, INR 32,459 for premium economy and 82,999 for business class.

The Tata-Singapore joint venture carrier is also going for a fleet expansion to beef up its international operations.

Vistara is a joint venture between Tata Group with a 51% share and Singapore Airlines with a 49% stake.

Also read - Vistara – Air India merger talks with Tata Group confirmed by Singapore Airlines.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) announced the beginning of A350-900 medium-haul wide-body planes facilities from Hyderabad to Singapore on Friday.

The SIA will fly daily between Hyderabad and Singapore, with A350 flights on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The inaugural flight of Airbus A350-900 will take off from Hyderabad at 2310 hours on 30 October.

Singapore Airlines to launch Airbus A350-900 services to Hyderabad.

"We are delighted to enhance our services to Hyderabad with our wide-body A350 aircraft. This is a significant milestone for us as it reinforces our commitment to the market, more so after SilkAir's integration with Singapore Airlines a year ago.In line with the company's commitment to product and service excellence, the Airbus A350 medium-haul aircraft, combined with our award-winning inflight service, will provide enhanced comfort to travelers from Hyderabad. Furthermore, the introduction of a wide-body aircraft in this sector also opens up a wider range of opportunities and capabilities for SIA Cargo."Sy Yen Chen, General Manager of India for Singapore Airlines.

The Singapore Airlines A350-900 features higher ceilings, larger windows, an extra wide body delivering more space and comfort, as well as lighting designed to reduce jetlag.

From 30 October 2022, Singapore Airlines will restore 100 percent of its pre-pandemic frequency from India.

Fitted with SIA’s regional Business Class and Economy Class cabin products, the A350-900 medium haul Business Class cabin has 40 lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 arrangement that ensures direct aisle access for every customer, while the Economy Class cabin has 263 seats arranged in a comfortable 3-3-3 configuration.

In addition, customers will have access to high-speed in-flight WiFi service on the new A350-900s, equipped with Inmarsat GX Aviation’s broadband connectivity system offered through SITAONAIR.

No-frills carrier SpiceJet is likely to induct 7 B737 MAX aircraft on wet lease in the next two months, sources told.

However, the airline is likely to induct two of the 7 Boeing 737 Max aircraft in October as the cap on SpiceJet’s operating capacity expires on October 29, 2022.

As per an order issued last month, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had asked SpiceJet to operate at up to 50 percent of the number of flight departures approved under the summer schedule 2022 till October 29, 2022.

SpiceJet likely to induct 7 Boeing 737 Max aircraft in 2 months.

SpiceJet’s winter schedule flights are likely to be lesser than the summer schedule. The airline had around 600 flights in its summer schedule but has been operating at 50 percent after the DGCA cap was imposed.

The Gurugram-headquartered budget carrier is facing an acute liquidity crunch for quite some time. SpiceJet posted a net loss of Rs 789 crore in the June quarter as well as Rs 458 crore for the quarter that ended in March 2022.

According to the airline, business was severely impacted by the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic and high fuel prices in the March quarter. In the June quarter, jet fuel prices rose 105 percent on a year-on-year basis and 40 percent on a sequential basis, the airline said.

With inputs from cnbc.

Also read - Is wet leasing aircraft a good choice for Indian airlines?