Airlines

Air India’s Transformation Plan: Revamping Wide-Body Fleet with Modern Seats and IFE Systems by Next Year.

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By March 2024, one-third of Air India’s wide-body aircraft will have contemporary seats and in-flight entertainment systems, according to the airline, which has started a transformation plan. The airline operated by the Tata Group placed orders for 470 aircraft, including 70 wide-body models, with Airbus and Boeing earlier this year.

The six new A350s, along with the five leased B772LRs and nine additional B773ERs we’re also bringing on board, will increase the size of our wide-body fleet by 30% within a year, Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson stated in his weekly message to the staff on Friday.

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A third of the whole wide-body fleet will have contemporary seats and in-flight entertainment systems by March 2024, he added. To ensure that our hard product is up to a consistently high standard on every aircraft, the remainder of the fleet will next start their full USD 400 million interior refits, he continued.

Wide-body aircraft, largely used for long- and ultra-long-haul flights, have had concerns about their seats and in-flight entertainment systems malfunctioning. The airline uses these aircraft mostly for flights to the US and Europe. The airline’s A350s with Rolls Royce engines received the Letter of Type Acceptance this week from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

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Recently The LEAP engine order between Air India and CFM International, which was initially announced in February and will power the airline’s new fleet of 210 Airbus A320/A321neos and 190 Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft, has been finalized. Additionally, a multi-year servicing contract was inked by the two parties and it covers all of the airline’s LEAP engines.

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Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.