Market Intelligence: Indian Subcontinent

Indian Airline Receives 20 Aircraft in Less than 12 Months from Starting Operations

Akasa Air, India’s most dependable airline, welcomed its 20th aircraft, becoming the first airline in Asia to add the 737-8-200 variant of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to its rapidly expanding fleet. Bearing the registration VT YAV, the airline received the ceremonial keys to the milestone aircraft in Seattle, USA on July 28, 2023, and the aircraft arrived in Bengaluru at 9:31 hrs. on August 1.

Akasa Air is one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, having reached a fleet size of 20 aircraft within a year of commencing operations. Indian regulations require airlines to have at least 20 aircraft in their fleet to become eligible for international operations and this milestone enables Akasa Air to fly internationally. 

Commenting on the successful induction of Akasa Air’s 20th aircraft, Vinay Dube – Founder and Chief Executive Officer, at Akasa Air said, “Akasa Air is merely an expression of what India is capable of achieving. Today’s landmark addition to our fleet, heralds the international chapter of growth in Akasa’s story, and makes us extremely optimistic about our future. We are very excited at the prospect of showcasing our unique and distinct service to the world.   Going from 0 to 20 aircraft within 12 months is not just an Akasa record but a record that encapsulates the potential of our great country and one for our whole nation to be proud of.”

“I am particularly gratified in the way our airline has grown. The unprecedented pace of our expansion is fuelled by the passion of our employees, who strive to make air travel increasingly accessible and reliable. We have recorded the highest on-time performance for several consecutive months in 2023 and are especially proud to have achieved this milestone without compromising on our unflinching commitment to service leadership,” Vinay added. 

The Boeing 737-8-200 aircraft aligns with Akasa Air’s continued efforts to control operating costs while enhancing the customer experience. In addition to being the most environmentally progressive aircraft, the best-in-class legroom complements Akasa Air’s commitment towards building an airline that is customer obsessed, economically sustainable and socially responsible.  

“This milestone symbolizes the strength of our partnership with Akasa, as they take delivery of the first 737-8-200 in the Asia region,” said Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. “The 737-8-200 offers a balance of airline economics and unparalleled customer experience that is a perfect fit for Akasa and allows the airline to deliver on its promise of service excellence.”

The 737 MAX family provides greater range and fuel efficiency, reducing fuel use and carbon emissions by 20% compared to those it replaces. In addition, the 737 MAX is a quieter airplane with a 50% smaller noise footprint than replacement airplanes. 

Since launching commercial operations in August 2022, Akasa Air has been the fastest-growing airline in India. Today it has a fleet of 20 aircraft and has thus far carried over 4 million revenue passengers and crossed the milestone of operating over 900 weekly flights with a published network of 35 unique routes connecting 16 Indian cities.

About Akasa Air 

Akasa Air is India’s newest and most dependable airline, offering warm and efficient customer service, reliable operations, and affordable fares – all in the Akasa Way. Akasa’s youthful personality, employee-centric philosophy, tech-led approach, and culture of service will make this commitment a reality for all Indians. The carrier launched its first commercial flight on 07 August 2022 to support the growing demand across India. 

With a commitment to being socially responsible, Akasa Air has placed a firm order of 76 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, powered by CFM fuel-efficient, LEAP-1B engines. The 737 MAX family aircraft deliver superior efficiency in reducing fuel use and carbon emissions, fulfilling the airline’s promise of being an environmentally friendly company with the youngest and greenest fleet in the Indian skies.

Source: Akasa Air Press Release
Photo Credit: Akasa Air

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Global Aviation Group Sky One FZE Expands its India Footprint with Significant Acquisitions and Partnership Plans

UAE-based global aviation group Sky One FZE, is actively exploring expansion opportunities in India with significant acquisition plans and new partnerships. Led by Jaideep Mirchandani, the Chairman of Sky One FZE, the company aims to capitalize on India’s flourishing aviation market and contribute to its dynamic growth. With a diverse portfolio of aviation assets, including helicopter charter services under the aegis of Sky One Airways, Sky One FZE has already made its mark, particularly in the Northeast region.

Jaideep Mirchandani stated, “Recent studies highlight India’s immense potential as one of the largest aviation markets in the world, offering significant opportunities for financing in the aircraft leasing segment. Projections indicate that the country could see financing up to USD 100 billion in this sector over the next 20 years.”

These figures underscore the necessity for strategic and definitive actions to be implemented, particularly in the aircraft leasing segment, and Sky One FZE’s India expansion strategy aims to capitalize on these emerging opportunities. In 2023 Star9 Mobility, a consortium of Sky One Airway Pvt. Ltd and Sky One FZE bid (₹181.05 crore) to buy the government’s stake in helicopter services company Pawan Hans in India. 

Mr.Mirchandani believes that Sky One FZE’s commitment to uncompromising safety, reliability with a customer-centricity approach will position it as a valuable contributor to India’s aviation growth story and said, “By 2038, India’s airplane fleet is projected to quadruple in size and reach 2,300 aircraft, with single-aisle planes leading the demand and accounting for nearly 85 percent of new deliveries. Furthermore, by 2050, India’s commercial fleet size is expected to exceed 5,000 aircraft. As experts in leasing, we aim to expand collaborations in the burgeoning Indian aviation sector by partnering with additional aircraft providers to ensure safe and reliable travel for a broader range of customers. We are also exploring possibilities like the acquisition and revival of some partner airlines.”

The worldwide commercial aviation fleet is projected to expand by 33 percent, reaching over 36,000 aircraft by 2033. To meet the growing demand for trained aviation professionals, Sky One FZE’s Pier Seven Aviation has acquired a top aviation training organisation in Bucharest, Romania. Mr. Mirchandani said, “Our focus is to build a world-class workforce with an emphasis on providing ample opportunities to as many aspirants as possible. Most of the students in our academy are from India, and through this recent acquisition, we hope to provide high-quality training to aspiring professionals in India and around the world. With a quality-driven approach, we hope to span all aspects of premier training services and help create the next generation of aviators.”

He also added that Sky One FZE is committed to engaging with relevant stakeholders, industry partners, and regulatory authorities to ensure future initiatives align with India’s aviation vision and contribute to its sustainable growth. “The rapid advances in technology, frequent changes in government policies, and environmental regulations are vital components that we need to consider while planning. Fortunately, India provides a highly positive environment on all these components, which encourages more potential tie-ups to turn the country into a global aviation hub,” said Mr. Mirchandani.

Source: Sky One FZE Press Release

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Indian Pilot Training Solution Provider Takes In New Students, Launches Brand-New Website

Blue Angels Air, a Delhi, India-based pilot training solution provider that holds flight training abroad with partner flight schools is now starting to take in students for its course set to commence on September 4, 2023.

“With the significant growth in the Indian aviation sector & the increasing demand for commercial pilots, we have an aligned vision to source, nurture and train a high calibre of cadets,” said Althea Paul, Founder & CEO of Blue Angels Air. “At Blue Angels Air we firmly believe that a pilot’s journey should be defined by excellence, adaptability, and continuous growth. Our training programmes, reflects our dedication to shaping the next generation of exceptional aviators, equipped with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the dynamic aviation industry.”

Blue Angels Air’s team is highly experienced and brings a wealth of expertise in the field of airline cadet pilot training and in-flight crew training. They will be one of the leading aviation training providers to carriers based in India, whilst also extending this to Asia and the Middle East.

Blue Angels Air will be targeting young cadets who dream of being an Airline Pilot or Business Jet Pilot and will help to nurture and train these individuals as part of their aviation career.

“While we are immensely enthusiastic about nurturing India’s forthcoming pilots, we also recognize the significant responsibility we shoulder. It’s crucial that we identify candidates possessing the right qualities,” Paul added. “By doing so, we enhance safety and competence, which in turn guarantees the success of our training program and contributes to the overall success of the airlines we serve. We are committed to fostering excellence in aviation!”

Moreover, Blue Angels Air recently unveiled its brand-new website, bursting with exciting features and information.

Source: Blue Angels Air
Photo Credit: Blue Angels Air

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CPaT to Provide Distance Learning Pilot Training Solutions Solutions to Pakistani Airline, Airblue

CPaT Global, the world’s leading provider of distance learning for the airline and aviation industry, announced they have been awarded a new contract with Airblue. CPaT will be providing Airblue with Aircraft Systems and General Subjects training for pilots for the Airbus A320 CEO and Airbus A320 NEO.

“CPaT is excited about our new partnership with Airblue,” said Capt. Greg Darrow, Vice President of Sales. “With our comprehensive Aircraft Systems and General Subjects training for the Airbus A320 CEO and Airbus A320 NEO, we are dedicated to empowering Airblue’s pilots with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in their careers.”

Airblue is based out of Karachi, Pakistan.

About CPaT

CPaT Global, LLC (CPaT) is the market leader in distance learning for the aviation industry. CPaT delivers software-as-a-service applications to more than 300 global aviation customers, serving 100,000+ individual users, and providing nearly two million hours of training each year. CPaT pioneered the use of distance learning in aviation training more than 25-years ago and has built on that legacy to offer new and imaginative training solutions that are practical, forward-looking, and invaluable. CPaT transforms aviation instruction by providing smart training solutions, and vision for curriculum spanning aircraft systems, general subjects, and operational procedures.

About Airblue

Airblue Limited is a private airline. It is Pakistan’s second largest airline with a growing share of the domestic and regional market. Airblue’s fleet consists of next-generation Airbus A320 and A321 NEOAircraft. Led by a team with decades of experience in the industry, airblue embodies a new era in air travel. Airblue operates scheduled flights linking domestic destinations Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Multan with international destinations of UAE airports Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi, and KSA airports of Jeddah and Riyadh. Airblue has integrated unique innovations to ensure security and affordability. Among these are complete online reservation systems, online reservation hold / in-person payment at various locations, and electronic document handling. Airblue was the first airline in Pakistan to introduce many modern technologies, including e-ticketing and self-check-in kiosk facilities.

Source: CPaT Press Release
Photo Credit: CPaT

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Air India Appoints Captain Manish Uppal as Head of Flight Operations

Tata-owned Air India has appointed Captain Manish Uppal as Head of Flight Operations. According to an announcement issued on Tuesday, Uppal, who is currently the Head of Operations at Air Asia India, will assume the role of Head of Flight Operations (Designate) at Air India Limited with immediate effect. “In his new role, he will be reporting to the Chief of Operations, Capt. R S Sandhu,” the statement said.

“Manish is a trained airline transport pilot with over 19 years of experience in training fleets, piloting commercial flights, and managing airline operations. He is a DGCA approved TRI (A) and Designated Examiner on A 320,” the statement continued.

Previously Captain Manish Uppal held the positions of Accountable Manager and Head of Operations, Director of Training Standards at Air Asia India.

Source: Local Media
Photo Credit: Air India (shown as meta image)

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India’s Flag Carrier, Air India, Planning to Add 500 New Crew Members Every Month

Air India is planning to add over 500 crews each month for the next months, Chief executive officer Campbell Wilson said in his weekly message to employees.

“As the system settles in, crew should see earlier roster publication, more stable rosters, better integrity of ‘golden offs’ and better standby provisioning to reduce last minute call-ups,” said Wilson. “Additionally, with more than 500 new crew being released into service in each of the coming months, we will be able to reinstate full crew complements and accelerate training.”

“Also, when averaged over a few months, there will also be more equitable earnings,” added Wilson.

Source: Local Media
Photo Credit: Airbus (shown as meta image)

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