Aviation

Emirates rolls out pre-approved visa on arrival for Indian travellers

Emirates and VFS Global have partnered exclusively to offer Indian passport holders who have booked travel with the airline a pre-approved visa-on-arrival option.

This new initiative, which is being fulfilled by Dubai Visa Processing Centre* (DVPC) and issued as a 14-day single entry visa, will allow Emirates customers to arrive in Dubai without having to wait in queue and will streamline their arrival formalities by allowing them to breeze through customs before leaving the city.

Customers of Emirates may make their travel arrangements via emirates.com or by using their preferred travel agency. Customers should click the “apply for a UAE visa” link on emirates.com after retrieving their booking through “Manage an existing booking.” They will be taken to the VFS Global Services-powered online application page for a UAE visa, which outlines the prerequisites, terms, and conditions to streamline the application process.

For additional information visit https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/before-you-fly/visa-passport-information/uae-visa-information/

Only Indian citizens with a valid six-month visa for the US, a US Green Card, EU residency, or UK residency may use this service. Visas are still issued at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs’ complete discretion.

Emirates currently operates 167 weekly flights to nine destinations in India, connecting passengers to Dubai and a global network of over 140 destinations. The Indian cities on the airline’s network are Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad.

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.