Aviation

JET AIRWAYS IS COMING BACK as Creditors back plan to get India’s Jet Airways flying again

According to the Money control website The Kalrock Capital-Murari Jalan consortium winning the bid for Jet Airways as part of the resolution plan is just the beginning of many steps that are needed for the airline to re-start flying! While the news created buzz that this would be a second lease of life for the airline which suspended operations in April 2019, the road remains as tough as it has ever been…

The real question for the airline to get back will be money, planes and slots! With a debt of over Rs 8,000 crore – the first ask would be to restructure the debt and ensure that it is sustainable. Times have changed and even a cash-rich airline like IndiGo has resorted to sale and leaseback along with plans to raise money. Recovery is a few years away and while the 120 plus-aircraft airline couldn’t earn enough to service its debt obligations in the hay days, the going will be much tougher with a smaller fleet and challenging market condition.

Ashish Chhawchharia (Resolution Professional for Jet Airways) has given Notice to the Employees & Workmen of Jet Airways (India) Limited that

I am writing to communicate to you on the status of the corporate insolvency resolution
process (“CIRP”) of your beloved company- Jet Airways (India) Limited.
When I last communicated with you, the two (2) Resolution Plans were submitted for the
CoC members’ consideration on October 03, 2020 and following the provisions of the
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“IBC”), these Resolution Plans were put for
voting by the CoC members.
The voting lines closed on October 17, 2020 at 01.00 pm and the Resolution Plan
submitted by the Consortium of Mr. Murari Lal Jalan and Mr. Florian Fritsch (“JalanKalrock plan”) has been duly approved by the CoC under section 30(4) of the Code as
the successful resolution plan.
As next step, I will be filing an application in accordance with section 30(6) of the Code
for approval of the Jalan-Kalrock plan by the Hon’ble NCLT after some necessary
formalities are completed. As and when the resolution plan is approved by the NCLT, the
process of the implementation of the plan shall be initiated by the successful applicant.
We are now one important step closer to a successful resolution and to make Jet Airways
fly again!
I shall keep you posted on the progress.

Approval Notices Click here

View Document click here

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.