Tata negotiating aircraft order for Air India with Airbus and Boeing

Planemakers Boeing Co and Airbus SE have met executives from India’s Tata Group in recent weeks to discuss future plane orders for Air India, two people familiar with the matter said.

In January, Tata regained ownership of state-run carrier Air India after nearly 70 years in a USD 2.4 billion equity-and-debt deal. While the airline has lucrative landing slots, the group faces an uphill task to upgrade Air India’s ageing fleet and turn around its financials and service levels.

Air India has a mixed fleet of over 140 Airbus and Boeing planes, and industry executives estimate it would cost Tata more than USD 1 billion to refurbish the ageing aircraft.

Tata negotiating aircraft order for Air India with Airbus and Boeing

Bloomberg reported on Thursday, February 24 that Tata had begun preliminary discussions with the planemakers and lessors for jets including Airbus A350-900s and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, citing people familiar with the matter.

The talks are at a preliminary stage, with Tata Sons assessing the right fleet mix and no decisions taken yet on aircraft type or order size.

The carrier is in discussions for new Airbus or Boeing narrow-body jets that form the mainstay of Air India’s domestic and short-haul operations, as well as wide-body aircraft capable of flying as far as the US, the people said.

Air India, one of the world’s first buyers of the Boeing Dreamliner, operates the oldest versions of the fuel-efficient workhorse.

A deal for 50 brand new 787-9 jets could be valued at USD 14.6 billion at sticker prices, although discounts are common in such large transactions. Air India, one of the world’s first buyers of the Boeing Dreamliner, operates the oldest versions of the fuel-efficient workhorse, although several of them remain grounded due to a lack of parts.

Airlines typically order jets years in advance because manufacturing capacity at planemakers is limited and getting early delivery slots remains a challenge. Demand for narrow-body jets, such as those in the A320neo and 737 Max families of aircraft, is particularly high, meaning it can take years after an order is placed to induct aircraft into a fleet.

Air India’s average fleet age is more than 10 years.

“In terms of fleet, we know we have work to do,” Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of the Tata Group, told Air India employees earlier this month at an internal company briefing. “We will address it with utmost urgency.”

Air India will increase the number of aircraft it has - both wide-body and narrow-body - and will move to do that with speed in the coming months, Chandrasekaran told staff. Air India’s average fleet age is more than 10 years.

The airline, with its maharajah mascot, was once renowned for its lavishly decorated planes and stellar service championed by founder JRD Tata. Air India was founded in 1932 and nationalised in 1953.

Air India is the third airline brand in the Tatas’ stable as it holds a majority interest in AirAsia India and Vistara.

Since the mid-2000s, however, Air India’s reputation has declined as financial troubles mounted. It flew widebody planes with business class seats in poor repair and grounded some of its new 787s to use for spare parts.

Tata, the autos-to-steel conglomerate, operates two other airlines: Vistara, in a joint venture with Singapore Airlines, and AirAsia India, which operates in partnership with AirAsia Group.

(With Inputs from Bloomberg and Reuters)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday, February 24 announced an imminent ban on the ability of the Aeroflot airline to operate in the UK as he outlined a new tranche of sanctions against Russia following President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the ban in parliament and the UK Civil Aviation Authority said it had suspended Aeroflot's foreign carrier permit. "This means that Aeroflot will not be permitted to operate flights to the United Kingdom until further notice," the UK Civil Aviation Authority said.

UK PM Boris Johnson announced an imminent ban on the ability of Aeroflot airline to operate in the UK

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he had signed restrictions prohibiting all scheduled Russian airlines from entering British airspace.

This ban is part of a package of sanctions against Moscow, which included sanctions against Russia’s second-largest bank, VTB, and other financial institutions as well as Russian oligarchs.

The UK is the first government worldwide to ban Russia’s Aeroflot following the Ukraine invasion on Thursday, February 24 morning. Aeroflot won't be able to land in UK airports nor fly through UK's airspace.

The UK is the first government worldwide to ban Russia’s Aeroflot following the Ukraine invasion on Thursday, February 24 morning.

The Russian flag carrier Aeroflot flew daily between Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) and London Heathrow International Airport (LHR). The flight number is SU2578. Today’s flight landed at 12:05, local time, and was operated using an Airbus A320, registration VP-BRG, per FlightRadar24.com.

The aircraft left the UK a few hours later, operating Aeroflot’s flight SU2579 from London to Moscow.

Johnson declared that a vast invasion is underway by land by sea and by air as innumerable missiles and bombs have been raining down on innocent people.

“Today in concert with our allies we will agree to a massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy,” said Johnson.

Aeroflot's A321 painted in the Manchester United Livery.

The football squad Manchester United is also reportedly looking to end their nine-year association with Aeroflot. The Red Devils are looking to disassociate themselves with their long-term sponsors, according to local media outlets.

Aeroflot has 4,878 international flights scheduled in February 2022, according to data provided by Cirium.

The Russian-state airline leading international destinations (besides Simferopol, Ukraine) are Minsk, Dubai, Yerevan, Istanbul, Milan, Bishkek, Male, Berlin, Tashkent, and Samarkand. Each of these destinations has between 52 and 101 scheduled flights this month.

Emirates is prepared to cancel its order for 115 B777X if Boeing delays their first deliveries beyond 2023, Chairman Tim Clark told Airlineratings in an interview.

"If it goes beyond 2023 and it goes on for another year, we probably cancel the program. What else can we do? We can't continue the way we are. Boeing really needs to get their act together and get this aircraft sorted. Don't forget - the aircraft was originally designed for delivery in April 2020, it's now 2024 if we are lucky," he said.

Emirates is prepared to cancel its order for 115 B777X if Boeing delays first deliveries beyond 2023

They were supposed to come in May 2023. He mentioned that Boeing has a huge backlog as they haven’t produced any aircraft lately, that’ll take them two or three years to go over that. They got production and quality control issues that they admit, and now after the MAX crisis with the regulator saying ‘we want to have a good look at everything, that is slowing the whole thing down.

The Emirati carrier has firm orders for 99 B777-9s and 16 B777-8s, making it the largest customer of the type globally. Clark underlined that Emirates remains committed to the B777X, partially due to a lack of alternatives in the same capacity range. He revealed that he had lobbied Airbus to develop a replacement for the A380, but the manufacturer is unwilling to invest in this segment.

Emirates trimmed its B777 order to 115 jets partly by swapping them for B787 Dreamliners

While twelve initial B777-9 fuselages for Emirates have already been built, Clark said Boeing had so far committed to delivering just three to five of them in 2024.

The American manufacturer hopes to obtain the B777-9 type certificate by July 2023, although the Federal Aviation Administration slowed the certification process in 2021, potentially delaying service entry to the first quarter of 2024.

Clark disclosed that intensive engine tests are planned this summer in Dubai, where the aircraft will be subject to repeated maximum-power take-offs in hot and dusty conditions.

Emirates originally ordered 150 B777 twin-engined jets in 2013

Clark said Emirates' order for 30 B787-9s was also in danger due to the ongoing pause in the type's production caused by manufacturing issues discovered in mid-2021.

"They were supposed to come in May 2023. But it's not going to happen, how can they deliver? Look at the huge backlog, they haven't produced any aircraft lately, that'll take them two or three years to go over that... [Our contract with Boeing] is in a complete mess. We don't want to cancel the B787s or the B777-9s, we want the airplanes," Clark said.

Emirates' fleet currently comprises 121 A380-800s (which are no longer produced)

The airline is worried that these delivery delays will cause capacity gaps once traffic recovers after the COVID-19 pandemic. Emirates' fleet currently comprises 121 A380-800s (which are no longer produced, although Clark has vowed to continue operating some of them through the mid-2030s), 124 B777-300(ER)s (which are 9 years old on average), and ten B777-200(LR)s (13.8 years old).

"We try to deal with it by extending aircraft lives and trying to advance some of the new aircraft, which currently will only come from 2024. Life extension will affect about 120 aircraft, 80 of them A380s, plus about 40 or 50 B777-300ERs. The exact numbers haven't been fixed. Their life will be extended by six to ten years each," Clark explained.

We don't want to cancel the B787s or the B777-9s, we want the airplanes - Tim Clark

A Boeing spokesperson said it "remains focused on executing the comprehensive series of tests and conditions to demonstrate the safety and reliability of the airplane’s design". Boeing will continue to work closely with customers, the company said.

Emirates originally ordered 150 of the twin-engined jets in 2013, becoming by far their biggest customer. It later trimmed the order to 115 jets partly by swapping them for 787s and has previously suggested it could switch more of the order to 787s.

An Air India aircraft flying to Ukraine to bring home Indians turned back for Delhi after Ukraine said it has closed its airspace amid Russian military operations in its eastern breakaway areas. Thousands of Indians are waiting to fly back home from Ukraine amid a conflict with Russia.

However, the Ukrainian authorities on Thursday, February 24 morning closed the country's airspace for civil aircraft operations.

The Air India flight decided to turn back to Delhi after a NOTAM, or notice to airmen was sent to all flights heading to Ukraine. The government said alternate evacuation routes are being activated.

Air India rescue flight was forced to return as Ukraine closes airspace to civilian flights

The Air India flight AI 1947 started from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here at around 7:30 AM for Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv. Meanwhile, a Ukraine International Airlines flight from Kyiv landed at the Delhi airport at around 7:45 AM on Thursday, February 24.

Russian President Vladimir Putin this morning allowed Russian special forces to operate in two separatist areas in Ukraine, which Russia on Monday, February 21 recognised as independent nations.

With large-scale military operations unfolding in eastern Ukraine, commercial flights would be at very high risk due to the chaotic nature of the airspace, which would likely be crowded with military anti-aircraft activity.

NOTAM or notice to airmen was sent to all flights heading to Ukraine.

On its website, Ukraine State Air Traffic Services Enterprise said the country's airspace was closed to civilian flights starting from 0045 GMT on Thursday, February 24 with air traffic services suspended.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said airspace in Russia and Belarus within 100 nautical miles of their borders with Ukraine could also pose safety risks.

"In particular, there is a risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft," the agency said in a conflict zone bulletin. "The presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and airborne warfare systems pose a high risk for civil flights operating at all altitudes and flight levels."

Ukraine State Air Traffic Services Enterprise said the country's airspace was closed to civilian flights

The aviation industry has taken heightened notice of the risks conflicts to pose to civil aviation since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014.

EASA said Russia's defence ministry had sent Ukraine an urgent message warning of high risk to flight safety, due to the use of weapons and military equipment from 0045 GMT, and asked Ukraine's air traffic control to stop flights.

Websites that had shown intelligence-gathering flights over or near Ukraine as the West deliberately showcased support by transmitting detectable signals in recent weeks showed space as aircraft left and Ukraine was declared a conflict zone.

Early morning airline traffic skirted the whole country in crowded corridors to the north and west.

Hours earlier, Safe Airspace, which was set up to provide safety and conflict zone information after the downing of MH17, said it had increased its risk level over Ukraine to "do not fly". It also warned of the potential for a cyberattack on Ukraine's air traffic control.

Russia said on Thursday, February 24 it had suspended domestic flights to and from several airports near its border with Ukraine, including Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar and Stavropol, until March 2.

Russia has also closed some airspace in the Rostov sector "to provide safety" for civil aviation flights, a notice to airmen showed.

Before Ukraine advised of the airspace curbs, Britain, Canada, France, Italy and the United States had told their airlines to avoid certain airspace above eastern Ukraine and Crimea, but stopped short of a total ban.

Last week, two Ukrainian airlines disclosed problems in securing insurance for some flights while foreign carriers began avoiding the country's airspace as Russia massed a huge military force on its border.

(With Inputs from Reuters)

Mumbai airport is expected to handle more than 1,000 aircraft movements per day once regular international flight services resume, according to the ATC Guild.

Currently, the traffic at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport — the country's second-largest airport — remains around 25% lower compared to the pre-COVID period. On June 7, 2018, the airport handled 1,003 aircraft movements in 24 hours.

Mumbai airport to handle over 1000 aircraft after the resumption of regular international flights

Saifullah, Regional Secretary of the ATC Guild (India), on Tuesday, February 22 said that from an average of 950 aircraft movements per day before the pandemic in March 2020, the airport currently handles over 700 arrivals and departures daily. He is also the Regional Vice President-South-West Asia, International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Association (IFATCA).

"We have around 700 plus movements per day, both arrival and departures, at present, which is still 25 per cent short of the aircraft movements we handled in the pre-pandemic times. A major chunk of this coming from the domestic sector as (a limited number of) international flights are taking place under the air bubble agreements.In the last 23 months, air traffic has seen ups and downs due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the recovery in traffic we have seen this time, it appears to us that it has crossed all those peaks (of the earlier COVID impact)."Saifullah, Regional Secretary of the ATC Guild (India), Regional Vice President-South-West Asia, International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Association (IFATCA)

India has the third-largest airspace in the world. Over 60% comprises oceanic airspace over the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, Saifullah said while briefing reporters on the occasion of 100 years of Air Traffic Control (ATC) operations.

Stating that regular overseas flights are expected to resume soon, he said, "obviously, we may then handle over 1,000 movements regularly".

In the wake of the pandemic, domestic passenger flights were suspended for two months from March 25, 2020, while international commercial flights continue to remain suspended since March 23, 2020. Currently, overseas flights are being operated to and from India under bilateral air bubble arrangements.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in a three-week multilateral air exercise at Waddington in the UK from March 6 with a fleet of five Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA).

The IAF said on Wednesday, February 23 that the 'Cobra Warrior 22' exercise is aimed at providing operational exposure and sharing best practices amongst the participating air forces.

https://twitter.com/IAF_MCC/status/1496392542342230018

It said the exercise from March 6 to 27 will be a platform for the indigenously developed Tejas aircraft to demonstrate their manoeuvrability and operational capability.

The IAF said five Tejas aircraft will fly to the UK and the C-17 aircraft will provide the fleet necessary transport support.

"The IAF Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will participate in the exercise along with fighter aircraft of the UK and other leading air forces.The exercise is aimed at providing operational exposure and sharing best practices amongst the participating air forces, thereby enhancing combat capability and forging bonds of friendship."Indian Air Force

Last week, the IAF showcased Tejas jets at the Singapore Air Show with an eye on the possible export potential of the jet to friendly countries in years to come.

Three Tejas fighter jets and a 44-member contingent of the Indian Air Force (IAF) had participated in the Air Show from February 15 to 18.

The IAF showcased Tejas jets at the Singapore Air Show 2022.

Manufactured by state-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, the Tejas aircraft is a potent platform for air combat and offensive air support missions while reconnaissance and anti-ship operations are its secondary roles. It is the smallest and lightest in its class of contemporary supersonic combat aircraft.