Air India to add more A320neo, B777-300(ER)s

India's AIX Connect corrects pilots checks and tests

AIX Connect (I5, Bangalore International) has taken corrective steps after India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) flagged that its pilots were lacking pilot proficiency checks (PPC) and instrument rating (IR) tests.

“We acknowledge that we received a finding from DGCA as part of our main base inspection in December 2022 and have taken immediate corrective action through additional simulator sessions for our pilots in coordination with DGCA. Our training standards remain uncompromised with no deviation in safety margins, and we remain dedicated to ensuring the highest level of safety and quality in all facets of our operations,” an AIX Connect spokesperson told the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency.

Still, the airline formerly known as AirAsia India (I5, Bangalore International) could face a financial penalty of up to INR10 million rupees (USD 122,700) from the regulator or have the chief training pilot removed, unnamed sources told PTI.

“At the beginning when the airline started operations, there was a laid down set of pro forma, which would be circulated to each...

India's Vistara halts new aircraft orders

Vistara (UK, Delhi International) will accept aircraft already ordered but will not place any fresh orders ahead of its anticipated merger with Air India (AI, Mumbai International). CEO Vinod Kannan made the announcement in Delhi this week while also reporting the airline's first-ever quarterly profit.

In a January 24 media briefing, Kannan said despite the pause on aircraft orders, 17 pre-ordered planes will arrive at the airline between now and the end of calendar 2024, including one A321-200N, twelve A320-200Ns, and four B787-9s. The new aircraft will take Vistara's total fleet number from its present 53 to 70.

"We have not looked at any orders beyond that," Kannan said. "Once we have (merger) approval from the relevant authorities ... we will have to sit down together with Air India as a joint entity to see what we do." Kannan's comments come as the parent company of both airlines, Tata Sons, is close to finalising what is expected to be a massive aircraft order on Air India's behalf....

Air India to commence London Gatwick flights in late 1Q23

Air India (AI, Mumbai International) will add another UK destination to its network ahead of the 2023 Northern Hemisphere winter, announcing the start of flights between London Gatwick and Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Goa Dabolim, and Kochi International from March 26, 2023. According to an Air India statement, B787-8 aircraft will operate thrice weekly roundtrip frequencies across all four routes where the airline will enjoy sole operator status.

"This is part of the airline’s ongoing endeavour to spread its wings on the international aviation map, hence, increasing its market share on international routes," reads the statement. "The robust enhancement of operations is one of the major pillars of Air India’s transformational roadmap."

Air India presently flies to Birmingham, GB from Amritsar and Delhi and London Heathrow from Amritsar, Delhi International, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad International, Goa, and Kochi. Four other airlines - British Airways, Air Canada, Vistara, and Virgin Atlantic, also offer scheduled passenger flights between the two countries. According to ch-aviation capacities...

India's Vistara received $1.185bn in funding from owners

Two weeks ahead of announcing it was swapping its 49% stake in Vistara (UK, Delhi International) for a 25.1% stake in Air India (AI, Mumbai International), Singapore Airlines (SQ, Singapore Changi) provided funding of INR3.2 billion rupees (USD38.4 million) to the chronically loss-making Vistara. The sum was part of a INR6.5 billion (USD78.4) capital top-up provided to the airline by its two owners, Singapore Airlines and Air India.

India's Business Standard newspaper reports that cash was simply one funding parcel among many the two airlines have provided Vistara since founding it in 2016. While considered India's best airline from a passenger viewpoint, Vistara has never made a profit. Reportedly, Air India, which owns the majority 51% stake, has directed INR49.6 billion (USD600 million) to Vistara since 2016 and Singapore Airlines has contributed INR48.4 billion (USD585 million) for a total of INR98 billion (USD1.185 billion).

In early 2022, Tata Sons acquired Air India and its Vistara shareholding in addition to low-cost subsidiary Air India Express (IX, Mumbai International) and a...