NEW AIRLINE AKASA
Aviation firms plan own training schools to ensure supply of talent
While Air India is starting its own pilot training school, the GMR group that owns the country's largest airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company, GMR Aero Technic, has invested ?50 crore to start its own school for engineers. "To train such large numbers of engineers, GMR Aero Technic has entered the skill development segment with the GMR School of Aviation," Ashok Gopinath, president and accountable manager of GMR Aero Technic, said. The group also owns the Delhi, Hyderabad and Goa airports.
Moving beyond Airbus & Boeing: What will it take for India to make its own commercial airliner?
India is already a growing sourcing hub for the global defence and aerospace industry. With government help, this ecosystem can, in time, be developed to support the development of a commercial plane. That is how we made our space programme, experts point out.
Delhi Airport plans to raise capacity by 30% in 3 years
Delhi International Airport (DIAL) plans to expand capacity by 30% due to increased aircraft orders. CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar discussed the expansion at the CAPA India Aviation Summit.
Constructive policies over last several years exciting for India: Vinay Dube, Akasa Air
What I can talk about is the progressive and constructive policies that I have experienced over the last several years, those are very exciting for the country.
Government's protectionist move divides aviation industry
India's aviation industry is divided over the policy to freeze flying rights to Middle East nations, with Air India CEO Campbell Wilson advocating for limiting market access for foreign carriers.
Delhi-Mumbai Akasa flight carrying 186 passengers receives security alert, diverted to Ahmedabad
An Akasa Airlines flight from Delhi to Mumbai with 186 passengers, including an infant and six crew members, received a security alert. The flight was diverted to Ahmedabad following safety protocols and all passengers were deplaned. This comes days after a Vistara flight to Srinagar faced a bomb threat on May 31, landing safely with 177 passengers and one infant, all safely de-boarded for security checks.
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Indian Airlines ride AI: Human-like responses for passengers, lesser workload for agents
Artificial intelligence is transforming the Indian aviation industry, enhancing customer service and operational efficiency for airlines like Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air. From AI virtual agents handling diverse queries to AI chatbots with trillions of parameters, these technologies are streamlining processes and improving passenger experiences. The adoption of new-age technologies like AI and machine learning is on the rise across the industry, promising advancements in areas such as computer vision and data-backed decision-making.
Air Turbulence! IndiGo and Air India Express tackle rising threats amid climate change concerns
The rise in clear air turbulence, likely due to climate change, has led to increased incidents impacting airline passengers worldwide. Recent events, including a fatal case on a Singapore Airlines flight, have prompted airlines like Air India Express and IndiGo to enhance safety measures and pilot training to address this growing concern.
Domestic air traffic rises to 1.32 crore in April
As many as 1,370 passengers were affected due to denied boarding, with airlines spending Rs 136.23 lakh towards compensation and facilities in this regard, as per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data. The data showed there were a total of 32,314 flight cancellations in April and airlines spent Rs 89.26 lakh towards compensation and facilities.
India to be power house for future airline growth on travel eagerness, growing population: Report
India is expected to be a power house for future airline growth driven by the eagerness of people to travel and growing population, according to a report. In a report, the Netherlands-based ING Bank NV said India is set to deliver strong structural growth figures, and airlines are preparing for this with historically large orders for new aircraft from carriers Indigo and Air India.
Akasa Air to start flights to Jeddah from Jul 15
Akasa Air is going to begin operating flights to Jeddah starting from July 15, which will make the Saudi Arabian city the airline's second international destination. The airline, which is less than two years old, started flights to Qatar's capital Doha on March 28.
Akasa Air raises weight limit of pets flying with them; airline flew over 3,200 pets since launch
In response to customers feedback, Akasa Air has now increased the permissible weight limit for pets traveling in the cabin to 10 kgs, including the weight of the container, up from the previous 7 kgs. The airline, in a statement on Wednesday, said this enhancement underscores the airline's commitment to continuously elevate its services to meet the evolving needs of travellers.
Indian airlines to have 50% market share in international passenger traffic by FY28: CRISIL
CRISIL predicts Indian airlines to handle half of the nation's international air passenger traffic by 2027-28, up from 43% in the previous fiscal. This surge is driven by fleet expansion, new routes, and better domestic connectivity. Rising disposable incomes and government initiatives are fueling international travel growth.
India has incredibly affordable airfares, says Akasa Air CEO Vinay Dube
Vinay Dube of Akasa Air lauded India's affordable airfares, while planning international expansion and ensuring no pilot shortage. While acknowledging that aviation competition has always been intense, Dube said that as long as the focus is on fundamentals, there is enough room not just for Akasa Air to thrive in the future but for others as well.
Akasa Air will not have to cancel flights due to new pilot rest rules: Vinay Dube
Dube’s contrarian stance comes even though Federation of Indian airlines- a grouping of airlines including IndiGo and Air India, has said that they will have to cancel 20 % of flights as the new rules will require them to increase the number of pilots by 25% and hiring and training them will not be possible by 1 June.
Canada's CAE, Akasa Air enter into long-term partnership for training pilots
CAE has trained Akasa Air pilots since the airline started operations in 2022. It operates 13 state-of-the-art simulators in three commercial aviation training centres and delivers essential pilot training and training services to airlines in India.
Akasa Air partners with CAE for Boeing 737MAX pilot training
Akasa Air has entered a 15-year agreement with CAE for Boeing 737MAX pilot training in India. The Indian airline has announced international operations and added Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to its fleet in January. Speculations suggest a potential order of 150 Boeing planes.
Domestic air traffic rises 4.8 per cent to 126.48 lakh in Feb
February domestic air traffic rose by 4.8%, reaching 126.48 lakh passengers. Airlines paid Rs 222.11 lakh for delays affecting 1,55,387 passengers. SpiceJet's market share dropped to 5.2%, while Air India's OTP was 56.4%.
Fly91 gets DGCA approval to start flights
The airline aims to start flights by this month with two ATR-72 aircraft. It has won rights to operate flights from Sindhudurg, Jalgaon, Nanded and Agatti Lakshadweep to Bengaluru, Goa, Hyderabad and Pune under the government's regional connectivity scheme.
The right bet: Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's dream is set to soar higher
Exiting 2023 with a fleet size of 22 aircraft, including 21 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and one Boeing 737 MAX 8 200, the first of its kind in Asia, Akasa Air is ready for its next phase of growth. It further fuelled its international flying ambitions when in January the new airline welcomed two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to its growing fleet. Since it started flying in 2022, Akasa has garnered a market share of 4 per cent as against another low-cost but much older airline SpiceJet's 5.6%.
Akasa Air to fly beyond Indian boundaries; announces international operations from March-end
Akasa Air, a 19-month-old Indian airline, to begin international operations from next month. It will launch four weekly non-stop flights connecting Mumbai and Doha starting March 28, 2024, joining major rivals IndiGo and Air India.
Boeing says Alaska Air fiasco will not delay deliveries to India; new checks being added to ensure safety
Boeing has reassured India that aircraft deliveries will not be delayed after a recent cabin panel incident on an aircraft operated by Alaska Airlines. Darren Hulst, Vice President for Commercial Marketing at Boeing also assured that the aircraft manufacturer is prioritizing quality over quantity.
Akasa Air orders 150 Boeing 737 Max aircraft
Budget airline Akasa Air has placed an order for 150 Boeing 737 MAX jetliners, valued at around $20 billion at the current list price. The order includes a mix of 737 MAX-8 and 737 MAX-10 variants, with deliveries expected between 2027 and 2032. Akasa Air plans to use the new aircraft to expand its routes in both domestic and international markets.
Wings India: Airlines, planemakers set to unveil new orders at Hyderabad aviation event
As India sets its sights on becoming a regional aviation hub to rival Dubai and Singapore, the Wings India event in its southern city of Hyderabad, running from Thursday to Sunday, is set to draw representatives of lessors and government as well.
Consumer not the king: Why airlines have so many disgruntled passengers
A passenger assault on an IndiGo pilot during a flight delay caused by fog has added to incidents of the already frustrated Indian flyers. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Indian aviation industry, including delays, cancellations, poor service, and harassment. The sector is dominated by a near-duopoly, with IndiGo and Tata-owned airlines controlling a significant market share. However, struggling smaller airlines may find respite as market conditions change. Despite these issues, the industry plans to add more aircraft in 2024, though a fare war is not expected due to the grounded planes.
Akasa Air adds two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with aim of flying beyond India in coming months
Akasa Air Plane Order: Akasa Air added two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, fuelling its international aspirations. Closing 2023 with 22 planes, including an unprecedented 737 MAX 8 200 variant, Akasa emerges as one of civil aviation's fastest-growing carriers. Positioned for sustainable growth, the airline eyes a potential order of 150 Boeing 737 MAX jets amidst talks, seeking to solidify its domestic and international presence.
The scrap heap of billionaires’ failed airlines is poised for another entry from India
Jindal Power Ltd. — Go’s sole potential buyer under its insolvency resolution process — has decided not to bid. Local media reported that Jindal couldn’t assess Go’s value because it is unclear how many planes it will have, after the aviation regulator signaled its aircraft should be returned to lessors.
Golden decade of airlines is coming, I see a lot of profitability for next 10 years: Akasa Air CEO
“Before the end of the year, now there may be 75 days left, we will be placing a three-digit aircraft order and we have got the cash on hand to place a three-digit aircraft order. So, absolutely, we should be able to see through 2032 here very shortly with the existing set of financials that we have.”
How a soaring Akasa Air got into a wrangle with its pilots
Akasa Air, the airline launched by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, overtook SpiceJet in terms of domestic market share in June 2023. However, the airline faced trouble when 43 pilots quit without serving the mandatory notice period, leading to flight cancellations and loss of market share. Akasa Air sued the pilots and the aviation regulator, seeking action against the pilots. The courts ruled in favor of Akasa Air, allowing the airline to take legal action against the pilots.
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