Aviation

Air India Express Launches New Routes to Jammu and Port Blair

Air India Express is set to enhance its domestic operations by adding two new stations, Jammu and Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), to its network.

Starting December 1, 2024, the airline will introduce direct flights from Jammu to Delhi and Srinagar, as well as new routes connecting Port Blair with Bengaluru and Kolkata. From December 1, Air India Express will launch double daily flights between Port Blair and Kolkata.

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The first flight from Port Blair will depart at 8:35 am, reaching Kolkata at 10:45 am, while the second will leave at 12:20 pm, arriving at 2:35 pm. Meanwhile, flights from Kolkata to Port Blair will start at 5:40 am and 9:20 am, arriving at 7:50 am and 11:40 am, respectively. Bookings are now open on the airline’s website, mobile app, and other major booking platforms.

The expansion includes 14 weekly flights from Jammu, offering direct connections to Delhi and Srinagar, along with one-stop connections to nine domestic destinations such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Surat, as well as three international destinations: Bahrain, Dammam, and Muscat.

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From Port Blair, the airline plans 21 weekly direct flights to Bengaluru and Kolkata, with extended one-stop connections to 15 domestic cities including Chennai, Kochi, and Varanasi. Port Blair will also gain new international connectivity with flights to Abu Dhabi.

These new routes underscore Air India Express’s commitment to expanding its reach both domestically and internationally, catering to growing travel demands across the country.

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.