Jet Airways to lease 6-8 aircraft by December; in talks with aircraft manufacturers and lessors

Jet Airways is in discussions with aircraft manufacturers and lessors to lease 6-8 planes, including some of those which were to be delivered to Russian carriers before the Ukraine war, as it gets ready for the relaunch. The airline is also negotiating with airport operators to secure slots with "good" timings.

Once a major player in the Indian aviation space, the carrier has not flown since April 17, 2019, and is being revived under the ownership of the Jalan-Kalrock consortium. Last month it got its air operator certificate revalidated by the aviation safety regulator DGCA.

Jet Airways to lease 6-8 aircraft by December; in talks with aircraft manufacturers and lessors

"Aircraft availability is always an issue but now due to the Russia-Ukraine war, aircraft which were to be delivered to Russia are also available in the market along with those leased planes which were flying in Russia," a source told PTI.

He said the airline is negotiating with Boeing, Airbus and the lessors, adding that "discussions are at a very high level and an announcement is expected to be made very soon."According to the source, Jet Airways is looking to lease 6-8 aircraft by December. Jet Airways confirmed that the airline is in "advanced discussion "with the lessors and original equipment manufacturer (OEMs) but did not share specific details.

The A320 and A220 jets seem to be winning the race to woo Jet at the moment

"We have no comment to give other than we will share our fleet plans when they are finalized and we are ready to share. We are in advanced discussions with multiple lessors and all three OEMs," Jet Airways CEO, Sanjiv Kapoor told PTI.

"However, it will be the only single type of fleet either Airbus or Boeing. Both are in contention at this stage," the source said, adding that the airline can relaunch operations as early as September, once the aircraft deal is signed.

Talks have also been in the works with Boeing and Embraer, manufacturers of the 737 MAX and E2 family jets, respectively, though Airbus has appeared as the front-runner for the deal valued at a USD 5.5 billion list price.

Jet Airways is also negotiating with airport operators to secure slots with "good" timings.

The A320 and A220 jets seem to be winning the race to woo Jet at the moment, but reports suggest that a final decision has not been taken. For the longest time, it was assumed that Jet would continue with the 737 family of aircraft as it did in its first stint.

ALSO READ - Jet Airways places Airbus in the lead for USD 5.5 billion aircraft order

He said for the acquisition of a large number of aircraft, first an initial pact will have to be signed with the aircraft maker as the "competition" between Boeing and Airbus is very clear. "A decision on this is yet to be taken. But when it is taken, it will be quickly implemented," he said.

Jet Airways is mulling flying to Mumbai, Goa, and Bengaluru, among others, from its new base in Delhi

According to the source, the airline has also decided not to retain the aircraft currently in its fleet and instead dispose of them.

Stating that it will initially be domestic services only, the source said Jet Airways is mulling flying to Mumbai, Goa, and Bengaluru, among others, from its new base in Delhi, he said the network planning is yet to be finalised as the airline is looking for airport slots.

"We have got some slots but some fine-tuning such as appropriate timing is being done and the airline may announce this also. So everything is in a positive direction," as per the source.

In aviation parlance, a slot is an authorisation to either take off or land at a particular airport on a particular day during a specified period.

Technically known as vertical take-off and landing aircraft, Flying Cars are touted to take off vertically from the top of a building much like a helicopter, transition to cruise mode like a conventional plane and then land vertically.

Plugavel

Flying cars have always been a subject of interest and may seem like a futuristic or sci-fi movie invention, though the idea for the flying car has been around since the 18th century.

Founded in 2020 by Pete Bitar of Electric Jet Aircraft and Carlos Salaff of SALAFF Automotive, LEO Flight has unveiled the "LEO Coupe"- an all-electric jet turbine-propelled vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) with a three-seater car design.

How is it any different from other eVTOL models out there?

Bitar and Salaff have had a desire to create a unique design- something that wouldn't resemble a fixed-wing or a rotary-wing. Reportedly, the experimental prototype LX-1 is touted to be a personal automobile for the sky that science fiction has foreseen- a personal, creative project turned into a mission to manufacture it for public use.

The LEO Coupe

The prototype doesn't display the rather dashing looks shown in earlier variants of the final LEO Coupe. Basically designed to test the propulsion system at this stage, the flying aluminium airframe features large banks of small electric jets.

1.  DARPA-funded propulsion system by Electric Jet Aircraft

LX-1 manned alpha prototype | leoflight

LEO Coupe's fully electric propulsion system is comprised of clusters of powerful electric jets, allowing safety through redundancy. Additionally, the wings also feature non-exposed rotors, eliminating the danger to those around the vehicle.

2. Highly compact with an automotive familiarity

When compared with current eVTOL designs, LEO Coupe's compact size of 10' x 20' becomes immediately apparent. This feature enables it to be privately owned, used as an air taxi and as a vehicle in any place where space is the limited and ground infrastructure is underdeveloped or non-existent.

leoflight

With compatibility like no other, it is touted to fit in most 2-car garages.

3. Exhilarating interiors

leoflight

Gull-wing doors open from the side to an airy, comfy cabin designed for three adults including the pilot. Additionally, it also features a "floating seat" for the pilot, thereby enhancing the exhilaration of the flight.

leoflight

Reportedly, the easy-to-learn semi-autonomous controls also make the flight simple.

4. Seamless travel

The hypercar also features an integrated 5G connected system, wherein users can check into or book their hotel rooms, fill up forms and documents, or arrange any travel-related agendas while enjoying the landscapes and horizons through the generous, tall windows carpeting the vehicle.

Representative | leoflight

Reportedly, the LEO Coupe can fly with a 250-mph flight speed and over one hour of flight time per charge to rapidly commute between places. The aircraft will have an empty weight of 1,100 lb (499 kg) and be able to carry a 510 lb (231 kg) payload.

LEO's compact form also makes it ideal for fire rescue, medevac, Coast Guard, tourism, exploration and most any terrain without developed road infrastructure.

5. VERTISTOP-LEO Flight's charging network

leoflight

The VertiStop unit is a compact charging and landing pad, enabled by LEO's compact size. It provides a power grid connection and fast charging for the LEO Coupe. Integral solar arrays supplement energy needs. The mesh top will help absorb air currents from LEO's jet system. The simplicity and integrated design of the VertiStop unit make it easy to install and use, quickly making once-neglected rooftop spaces into a fast-charging network.

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

Dubbed as a "personal automobile" for the skies, it comes with a price tag of $459,900.

SOURCE(s)

COVER: eVTOL News

Botlab Dynamics, the IIT Delhi incubated drone startup that lit up Raisina Hill skies this Beating Retreat with a dazzling 1,000-drone light show, organised a similar event in Djibouti for the East African country’s 45th independence day on June 26.

Indian drone ecosystem companies have started beating their much bigger international counterparts by following the time-tested Indian IT industry model — offering a better service or service at highly competitive prices.

“We competed with a French company for the event. Our quotation for organising an event with 800 drones matched the price offered by the French firm for a light show with 300 drones.We are getting several inquiries for organising drone light shows in the UAE and Maldives. Globally it costs USD 4-5 lakh for organising such an event."Sarita Ahlawat, Co-Founder, Botlab Dynamics

The company says this was the largest drone light show to be held in Africa so far.

Apart from competitive costing, the Indian company could offer more formations (iterations as they are known technically) that the government of Djibouti liked. After emerging as the winning team, it sent 23 staffers from Delhi for the event.

https://twitter.com/BotLabDynamics/status/1541363367600095232

The Beating Retreat drone show in Delhi where almost 30 iterations were created was witnessed by diplomats in India who had subsequently tweeted about the same due to which governments abroad got to know about the quality of the same.

A startup of two young IIT Delhi techies, Botlab Dynamics had dazzled onlookers at the grounds of their alma mater in one of the first drone light shows in the capital in September 2021.

A startup of two young IIT Delhi techies, Botlab Dynamics had dazzled onlookers at the grounds of their alma mater in one of the first drone light shows in the capital in September 2021.

A single computer on the ground controls these autonomous drones as they changed their colours, shades and shapes to create formations like tricolours, human DNA and a vessel.

All the three critical components of a drone — flight control (its “brain”), GPS for precision position and motor control to determine rotor spin — are indigenously made by Botlab. Drone light shows are usually 8-10 minutes long during which they create 6-8 formations at an altitude of 50 metres.

https://twitter.com/indiaindjibouti/status/1541357577514237953

The recent Tokyo Olympics had a drone light show by Intel where our planet earth floated gently above through a formation of 1,824 premium drones.

Joe Biden-Kamal Harris victory was celebrated by a grand drone light show. Now Indian companies are getting on this bandwagon in a big way. Clearly, it’s time for lasers to make way for drone light shows as the new king of pyrotechnics.

(With Inputs from The Times of India)

Bangalore international airport has crossed the 250-million passenger mark in its 15th year of establishment in addition to handling 2-million aircraft movements during the period on June 25, BIAL said on Wednesday, June 29.

The airport, which is now managed and operated by the Canadian NRI Prem Watsa-owned Fairfax, commenced operations in May 2008.

https://twitter.com/BLRAirport/status/1542111087201775616

“Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru has achieved a significant milestone by crossing the 250 million passenger mark since the launch of its operations or Airport Opening Day (AOD), during the last weekend of June 2022,'' Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) said in a statement.

It said an additional 50 million passengers travelled from the airport in a span of nearly three years despite the pandemic and consequential slowdown.

Furthermore, the facility also achieved the milestone of 2 million Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) since AOD, making it the fastest Public-Private Partnership (PPP) airport in South India to achieve this milestone, as per BIAL.

Stating that the feat has been achieved on the back of the addition of new carriers in conjunction with the introduction of new routes and rising passenger numbers on existing, BIAL said that the pandemic has meant that traffic growth over the past two years has been slower than usual, Bangalore International Airport a has historically grown very fast.

''Reaching the 250 million milestones reassures us that our customer-centric approach, innovation and technically advanced infrastructure, in conjunction with the introduction of new routes and working closely with our airline partners and other stakeholders have led to consistent growth.”Hari Marar, MD & CEO, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL)

Meanwhile, the BIAL has opened an ultra-luxurious travellers lounge - 080 - to enhance the experience of both domestic and international travellers. The lounge is seen as a significant step by the airport operator to deliver the highest standards of traveller experience at the airport.

The airport has also installed 10 Emergency Oxygen Generators for passengers and airport staff, to provide life-saving support during medical emergencies.

BIAL has opened an ultra-luxurious travellers lounge - 080 - to enhance the experience of both domestic and international travellers.

The timely availability of emergency oxygen at the Departures and Arrivals area could help those experiencing heart attacks, breathlessness, or even fainting.

"This provides 99.7% pure medical-grade oxygen for up to 40 minutes, offering sufficient support until the affected person reaches the hospital," a BIAL release said.

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Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) believes its potential joint venture (JV) with Singapore Airlines (SIA) can help it tap the booming Indian market. 

The JV was announced in January 2020 and is subject to regulatory approvals. Both carriers are Star Alliance members.

The joint venture agreement is set to focus on services outside of the Japan and Singapore home markets. The changes should instead affect ‘key markets’ in the wider Asian region, such as Australia, India, Indonesia and Malaysia.

India's booming aviation market to be the focus of ANA & Singapore Airlines' JV

Both airlines are Star Alliance members and also have an existing codeshare agreement in place. The existing deal focuses on connecting flights, codeshare flights, lounge access and baggage connections on main routes.

Jun Miyagawa, ANA’s executive VP for alliance and international affairs, told Aviation Week Network that the India market is part of the JV’s scope.

Miyagawa said ANA has focused on the strong China-US transit market over the last 20 years, but this has disappeared following Beijing’s protracted border closure because of the pandemic. 

ANA is now looking at India as a promising transit market and hoping to tap into SIA’s network there. SIA is a major shareholder in Indian airline Vistara Airlines, holding 49%. 

ANA is now looking at India as a promising transit market and hoping to tap into SIA’s network there.

ANA currently does not have a codeshare agreement with Air India, also a Star Alliance member. ANA has been part of JV arrangements with United Airlines and Lufthansa Group since 2011 and 2012, respectively, but does not have a JV partner in Asia. 

“Therefore the JV with Singapore Airlines is key and we hope we can learn from its high service standards and strong business model,” Miyagawa said. ANA’s new long-haul “hybrid carrier” Air Japan will not be part of the JV.

ALSO READ - Singapore Airlines intends to increase flights to India amid strong travel recovery

(With Inputs from RoutesOnline)

The Delhi airport started conducting trials of a full-body scanner, which detects objects on passengers without any pat-down search, at its Terminal 2 on Tuesday, June 28.

“Full-body scanners can detect non-metal objects, which are hard to detect with the conventional door frame metal detector,” Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said in a statement. DIAL has installed a full-body scanner at the security check area for trials.

“The trials would be conducted on a real-time basis i.e. passengers would have to pass through it during their security check before moving to the security hold area,” the statement said.

https://twitter.com/DelhiAirport/status/1542121295764402177

Aviation security regulator BCAS had in April 2019 directed 84 hypersensitive and sensitive airports — including the Delhi airport — in India to install body scanners by March 2020, replacing existing door frame metal detectors, hand-held scanners and pat-down searches of passengers to detect metallic objects.

“Walk-through metal detectors and hand-held metal detectors cannot detect non-metallic weapons and explosives,” BCAS had said. “Body scanners detect both metallic and non-metallic items concealed on the body.”

The Airports Authority of India had in 2020 issued a tender to procure 198 body scanners for 63 airports following a circular to the effect by the BCAS, but the civil aviation ministry approved buying only 98.

Aviation security regulator BCAS had in April 2019 directed 84 hypersensitive and sensitive airports — including the Delhi airport — in India to install body scanners by March 2020

The trials of a full-body scanner at the Delhi airport would be carried out for a period of 45 to 60 days, the statement said.

A full-body scanner is used to detect objects without making physical contact with or breaching the privacy of passengers. Officials said full-body scanners can detect non-metal objects, which are hard to detect with the conventional door frame metal detector (DFMD). Each scanner is expected to cost around USD 4 crore, including annual maintenance.

“During this period, feedback of all the stakeholders – the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the airport operator DIAL, and passengers -would be taken, examined, and evaluated,” it said.

The trials of a full-body scanner at the Delhi airport's T2 would be carried out for a period of 45 to 60 days

Upon completion of trials, the findings would be shared with regulatory bodies for evaluation and the further course of action would be decided accordingly.

DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar said as an airport operator, DIAL had constantly been working to facilitate easy boarding for passengers, without compromising on security and safety.

“The safety and security of civil aviation is a major concern for all. The CISF has been doing a tremendous job. Now, we have deployed an advanced full-body scanner at the airport, It will not invade passengers’ privacy during security checks and will hardly have any impact on their health. After successful completion of trials, and evaluation of results, DIAL will install more such scanners as per the BCAS directive."Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL)

By using these body scanners, officials said they can reduce the number of random pat-downs and strip searches, thereby speeding up security checks. Door-frame metal detectors will, meanwhile, remain in place for special category passengers such as those who are wheelchair-bound or those who cannot physically pass through the full-body scanners.

Body scanners have been under consideration for more than a decade in India, however, concerns related to privacy, radiation, and false alarms have kept them away from being installed at the airports.

The advanced scanner takes care of passengers’ privacy and hardly has any impact on their health

During the first trials held in December 2016, the body scanners raised false alarms whenever a woman wearing a sari passed through it. In most of the cases, it was found that it was either the mangalsutra (a traditional piece of jewellery that married Indian women wear) or the metallic embroidery on her saree.

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The advanced scanner takes care of passengers’ privacy and hardly has any impact on their health. However, conventional detectors will be used at IGIA for special category flyers like those who are wheelchair-bound or cannot physically pass through full-body scanners.